Attendance

Attendance Matters!

We pride ourselves on the excellent attendance and punctuality of all of our families, we see poor attendance as a Safeguarding Concern.

Last year (24/25), our attendance dipped to 94% . Our school target is 96%. The main reason for this was term time holidays. We have high expectations for attendance for all children. You might spot our attendance on newsletters or in assemblies!

If a child's attendance falls below 95% the family may be contacted by the Head Teacher. Below 90% is classed by the local authority as persistently absent. There will be a half term monitoring period during which time we would expect attendance to improve.

If there are no improvements families will be invited into school to meet with the Head Teacher where improvement targets will be set. We may support families with a number of strategies including Early Help, School Nurse support or other outside agencies. Persistent Absence plans, Attendance Panels and Legal Frameworks are also an option.

Term time holidays cannot be authorised and families will be eligible for a fine from the Local Authority if they take their children out of school for 5 days within a 10 week period.

Families who are persistently late may also be eligible for a fine. Our gate closes at 8:55 am.

Absence due to sickness will be recorded as unauthorised if we do not receive a telephone call or written information regarding your child's illness upon their return. You must phone school each day of your child's sickness absence. We may request medical evidence if time off for medical reasons is frequent.

Promoting Positive Attendance and Punctuality

We work closely with parents and pupils to encourage good attendance through:

Creating a welcoming, nurturing school environment where pupils feel safe and valued.
A curriculum, teaching and learning experience that is knowledge-rich, interesting, exciting, aspirational and engaging.
Regular monitoring of attendance and support for families experiencing difficulties.
Recognition and rewards for good attendance and punctuality.
Weekly recognition awards, including Class Attendance and individual attendance raffle prizes
Leaders target absence hot-points throughout the year, incentivising positive attendance through use of certificates, vouchers or books.
Leaders have carefully considered term times and have tried to keep them inline with other schools
A close liaison with external agencies.

Reporting Absences

Parents must inform the school of their child’s absence before 9:10 AM on the first day by:

Calling the school office (on the first day of absence, as a minimum)
Sending an email.

If a child is absent for multiple days, parents should update the school each day. Medical evidence may be required for frequent absences.

do i need to keep my child off school.pdf

First Day Response and School Support

If a child is absent without notification, the school will:

Call parents to confirm the reason for absence.
Contact emergency contacts if parents are unavailable.
Conduct a home visit if deemed necessary.
Refer to the local authority if a child is absent for 10 days without contact.

Punctuality Matters

The school day starts promptly at 8:55 AM. Pupils arriving after 8:55 AM must enter through the school office and provide a reason in the late book. Persistent lateness can lead to meetings with school leaders and potential involvement from the local authority.

School Holidays and Term-Time Absences

Holidays during term time disrupt learning and will only be authorised in exceptional circumstances. Parents must submit a formal request in advance, and the headteacher will determine whether it can be approved.

National Approach to Fining for Term-Time Holidays

Under the new national framework, schools must consider issuing penalty fines if a child has 10 sessions (5 school days) of unauthorised absence within a 10-week period. The penalties are:

First offence: £80 per parent per child (rising to £160 if unpaid within 21 days).
Second offence (within 3 years): £160 per parent per child.
Third offence (within 3 years): May lead to prosecution in Magistrates’ Court, with fines up to £2,500 and a criminal record.