No two school days are the same! This means that every moment of the school day is unique and carefully designed to empower your child with the skills and confidence needed to flourish and thrive, both now and in their future lives. We are passionately committed to helping our children prepare for adult life and the world of work. This starts with good habits from a young age. Children as young as 3 in our Nursery benefit from a consistent routine, so making sure that they are in school all day, every day, on time, supports their emotional development as well as their social skills and learning. Our entire staff team take an active role in supporting our children to access as much education as possible – we expect the children in school on time every day so that they can benefit from the personal, pastoral and educational offer we boast.
Our Attendance Ambassadors, who are chosen from each class, are dedicated to making sure that all children attend school as much as possible, so they are assigned to help new children settle in straight away and get into the best habits. We’re delighted that our families value their child’s education so much and are always keen to work with families who need extra support. Our Attendance Officer supports families to embed good habits and attend school as much as possible, so if you need any help at all, get in touch and we’ll be delighted to help.
Government guidelines stipulate that Headteachers cannot grant any leave of absence unless in exceptional circumstances. Holidays and trips abroad do not qualify as exceptional circumstances.
If a leave of absence is taken for the purpose of a holiday it will be counted as an unauthorised absence. It is probable that a penalty notice may be issued in these circumstances, and a referral to the Education Welfare Service or Attendance and Inclusion Social Worker may also be made.
Whilst it is appreciated that children are ill from time to time, please think carefully before allowing your child to be absent from school. The chart below provides an indication of how just a few days absence can significantly impact a child’s overall attendance percentage and impede their learning:
| Description | Attendance | Whole days’ learning lost | Hours of learning lost |
| Excellent | 100 – 99% | 0 – 2 | 0 – 10 |
| Good | 98 – 96% | 4 – 7.5 | 20 – 37.5 |
| Description | Attendance | Whole days’ learning lost | Hours of learning lost |
| Requires Improvement | 95 – 91% | 9.5 – 17 | 47.5 – 85 |
Remember, school attendance is your statutory responsibility as a parent or primary career. This means if your child’s attendance falls into the red region below, not only is their education suffering, but you will be referred to the Education Welfare Service and may also receive a penalty notice.
| Description | Attendance | Whole days’ learning lost | Hours of learning lost |
| Persistent Absentee | 90 – 86% | 19 – 27 | 95 – 135 |
| Critical | 85 – 80% | 28.5 – 38 | 142.5 – 190 |
Remember:
We always aim to work positively with parents, when we have concerns regarding children’s attendance. This involves the school regularly keeping you updated via letters and other forms of contact regarding your child’s attendance percentage, as well as offering support or guidance whenever it is needed. We strive to work in partnership with families to find realistic solutions to overcome barriers to learning. Please contact the school office to make an appointment with our Family Support Worker or Safeguarding Officer who are available to advise you on a variety of matters.
Reducing the spread of illness this winter
