'Central to raising standards in education and ensuring all pupils can fulfil their potential is an assumption so widely understood that it is insufficiently stated – pupils need to attend school regularly to benefit from their education. Missing out on lessons leaves children vulnerable to falling behind. Children with poor attendance tend to achieve less in both primary and secondary school.’

School attendance: Guidance for maintained schools, academies, independent schools and local authorities, DfE August 2020

Regular Attendance

Good attendance is fundamental to a successful and fulfilling school experience. It is our duty to promote 100% attendance for all children. For our children to take full advantage of the educational opportunities offered it is vital that our pupils are at school, on time, every day the school is open unless the reason for the absence is unavoidable.

All children have the right to an education and we have put in place appropriate procedures to support this. We believe that the most important factor in promoting good attendance is development of positive attitudes towards school and learning. The attendance and punctuality patterns for all children are monitored weekly within the school by our Pastoral Team and any concerns are shared with the Local Authority’s Access and Inclusion Team. If your child’s attendance does become a concern, we will contact you, in the first instance, and ask you to come into school to attend an ‘Absence Support Meeting’ with the Headteacher and a member of our Pastoral Team.  We will also contact you if your child’s lateness also becomes a concern. Every term you will receive a letter reporting to you your child's attendance percentage.

Good attendance is important because:

• statistics show a direct link between under-achievement and absence below 95%
• regular attenders make better progress, both socially and academically
• regular attenders find school routines, school work and friendships easier to cope with
• regular attenders find learning more satisfying
• regular attenders are most successful in transferring between primary school, secondary school, higher education and employment or training

School times

Our School Playground opens at 8.30a.m. when school staff supervise the children when they enter the school grounds. Upon arrival, all children should enter the school building and make their way to their classroom by 8:40am where they will be met by their teacher and/or teaching assistant.  Once in the classroom, teachers register the children - registers are closed at 8.50a.m.  Any child not in school by 8.50a.m. are classed as ‘late’ and this is recorded on our school registers and can affect their overall attendance. Our school day ends at 3.20p.m.

School times - September 2023

In September we will be slightly adjusting our school timings. Our School Playground will open at 8.25a.m.  The school doors will then open at 8.30a.m. children can enter the school and go to their classes. Your child should be in school by 8.45a.m. this is our official start time.  Once in the classroom teachers register the children, registers are closed at 8.50a.m.  Any child not in school by 8.50a.m. are classed as ‘late’ and this is recorded on our school registers and can affect their overall attendance. Our school day will finish at 3.20p.m.

Family Holidays in Term Time

Following a change to the 2006 regulations- the statutory instruments 2013 No 756: The Education (Pupil Registration) England (Amendment) Regulations 2013 -  Headteachers are no longer able to grant requests for holidays to be taken by pupils during term time, unless in exceptional circumstances. Parents who would like to take their child out of school in term time should fill in a ‘Holiday Form’ to give specific reasons for the absence in school time.  Only in exceptional circumstances are holidays authorised and each request is dealt with individually.

Absence from School due to Illness

If your child is unwell you should telephone the school on 016973 42432. by 9.20am. Please do not use Class Dojo to advise us that your child will not be attending school.  

If we have not received a message that your child is absent, a member of staff will telephone you to find out where your child is.  This is for your child’s safety and to ensure that we know they are safe, so please be understanding if you receive a call from us.  If we are unable to contact you (or other emergency contact numbers) we may have to make a home-visit or contact the police for a ‘welfare check’.  Your child’s safety is paramount in these circumstances.   Unexplained absences have to be notified to the Local Authority. Under new regulations these are recorded as ‘Unauthorised Absence’ and can often result in further action.

If you wish to remove your child from school during the day, for instance for a Doctor’s, Hospital or Dental appointment, confirmation is required in writing or by phone from the recognised guardian.