Attendance

We pride ourselves on having a good and always improving attendance record.

We encourage regular attendance by:

Providing a caring and welcoming learning environment and learning that is such fun that children will not want to miss it.
Responding promptly to a child’s or parent’s concerns about the academy or other pupils.
Marking registers accurately and punctually during morning and afternoon registration.
Publishing and displaying attendance statistics.
Celebrating good and improved attendance.
Monitoring pupils, informing parents/carers in writing of irregular attendance, arranging meetings with them if necessary.

We expect that you will:

Always encourage regular school attendance and be aware of your legal responsibilities.
Always ensure that your child arrives at the academy punctually and fully prepared for the academy day.
Ensure that you contact the academy whenever your child is unwell and unable to attend the academy.
Contact the school by 9am on the first day of your child’s absence and telephone every day thereafter unless your child has a doctor’s certificate.
Contact us promptly whenever any problem occurs that may keep your child away from the academy.

FAILURE TO ATTEND SCHOOL

‘Failure to attend school regularly can have a major impact on young people’s education, their future and their life chances’.

We have a comprehensive attendance and absence in term time policy. Absences are strongly discouraged. A copy of this policy is attached below and also available on request at the school office. Penalty notices may be used as a deterrent to prevent a pattern of unauthorised absences developing.

Absence Request Form

Attendance and Absence in Term Time 2023 2024

ILLNESS

It can be tricky deciding whether to keep your child off school when they are unwell. Most illnesses are very mild, like a minor headache or a slight cold. If you decide to keep your child at home, it’s important to phone the school before 9am to let them know why they will be absent. Parents need to call school every day, it is not acceptable to say that your child will be absent all week.

ROUTINE MEDICAL AND DENTAL APPOINTMENTS

Wherever possible, make medical and dental appointments after school or in school holidays.

WHAT ABOUT TAKING MY CHILD OUT OF SCHOOL TO GO ON HOLIDAY?

There are 13 weeks of school holidays per year. Taking holidays during term time still affects a child’s attendance.
Term time holiday + absence due to illness (or other reason) = Significant impact on your child’s attendance
You must get permission from the head teacher if you want to take your child out of school during term time.
You can only do this if:
* you make an application to the head teacher in advance (as a parent the child normally lives with)
* there are exceptional circumstances
It’s up to the head teacher how many days your child can be away from school if leave is granted.

WHAT IS GOOD ATTENDANCE?

100% = Our target for every child
97%+ = Excellent
96% – 97% = Good
94% – 95% = BEGINNING TO CAUSE CONCERN
BELOW 93% = WORRYING AND LESS CHANCE OF SUCCESS
90% = PERSISTENT ABSENCE SERIOUS ATTENDANCE CONCERN

LOST MINUTES = LOST LEARNING

5 minutes late per day = 3 DAYS LOST
10 minutes late per day = 6 DAYS LOST
15 minutes late per day = 9 DAYS LOST
20 minutes late per day = 12 DAYS LOST
30 minutes late per day = 18 DAYS LOST EACH YEAR!

Our School Day

School Starts: 8.30 (the gate closes at 8.40) some Nursery children start their sessions at 9.

School Ends: 2.50 for children in Nursery and Reception 3.00 for children in Year 1 and Year 2.

ATTENDANCE