The importance of good attendance
Regular school attendance is an important part of giving children the best possible start in life. The aim should be to attend 100% of the time. Children who miss school frequently can fall behind with their work and do less well in their learning, ultimately affecting key exam results at 16 and 18. Good attendance also shows potential employers that a young person is reliable. Research suggests that children who attend school regularly could also be at a much lower risk of getting involved in antisocial behaviour or crime.
Absence procedures
Sickness absence - If your child is too unwell to attend school, please contact the school office to inform us before 9.00am on each day of sickness. If your child feels slightly under the weather but seems well enough to attend school, please let the class teacher know. We will keep a close eye on your child and will contact you if we feel it is necessary.
If you are not sure about whether to send your child to school or not then please get in touch and we can advise. The NHS website also has a page giving details of some common illnesses and whether your child should attend school or not.
Medicines in school - We only administer prescription medicine in school. This can only be administered with your written permission on a school medication form. Medication must be handed to the school office or staff in Breakfast Club with the completed form.
Lateness - Our school day starts at 8.40am and registers close at 9.00am, when the doors directly into classrooms are closed. This 20 minute start to the day is important learning time for children and we urge you to arrive ready for this. This is valuable learning time in school and over the course of the year this 20 minutes a day equates to 2 school weeks!
Children arriving after 9.00am impact on the learning of all children in class, not just their own learning. Any child arriving after 9.00am must enter school through the main reception area and be signed into school as registers will have closed, these children will receive a late mark. Children entering school via the front door must be signed into school by a parent, please do not just pull up so they can get out of the car.
Medical appointments - Wherever possible appointments should be made outside of school hours. If this is unavoidable please make sure that the school office is informed, preferably by email and that you send in the proof of the appointment.
Term time absence - Leave of absence forms must be completed at least two weeks prior to any intended absence from school. A leave of absence will only be authorised in the most exceptional of circumstances. The fundamental principles for defining “exceptional” are rare, significant, unavoidable and short. By unavoidable it means an event that could not reasonably be scheduled at another time. Absence during term time for holidays is therefore not considered an exceptional circumstance and will not be authorised.
Please see our Attendance Policy for further details on our absence procedures and the implications of taking unauthorised leave from school.