Attendance

What is ‘good’ attendance and why is it important?

School starts at 8.45am daily. Being in school every day gives your child the best chance possible to achieve their potential. For that reason, it is the local and national expectation that children attend school 100% of the time. However, it is important to note that we understand exceptional circumstances and illness happens. Your child’s health and wellbeing are important to us.

What do the Department for Education say about attendance?

Attendance at school isn’t just important, it is a legal obligation for children over the age of five. 

As the DfE notes, 'Improving attendance is everyone’s business’, and it is important that we, as your child’s school, work together in partnership with you, your family, your child, and the wider community to improve attendance. 

The new 'Working Together to Improve School Attendance' Guidance emphasises a ‘Support First’ ethos, and recognises that ‘the barriers to accessing education are wide and complex, both within and beyond the school gates, and are often specific to individual pupils and families... [It] is essential for pupils to get the most out of their school experience, including their attainment, wellbeing, and wider life chances.’

Please read the important letter Miss Tyler sent out about attendance below for all of the latest information.

UPDATE 2024 - IMPORTANT LETTER REGARDING ATTENDANCE

To view our attendance handbook please click here.

What is the difference between authorised and unauthorised attendance?

Authorised attendance is when you have informed the school that your child will not be in and the reason you provide is acceptable. For example, your child might have a sickness bug and is unable to attend school. Unauthorised attendance is when your child does not attend school and you do not inform us of the reason why, or the reason you provide is not acceptable. For example, we couldn’t authorise the absence if you wanted to keep your child at home for their birthday. If your child has a pattern of unauthorised attendance you become vulnerable to a not-insignificant fine from the Local Authority.

What are the rules around lateness?

The school register closes at 9am. Should your child arrive at school after that time, they will be registered as ‘late’. We closely monitor who is arriving around or just after 9am each day. Should your child arrive later than 9.20am, without a legitimate reason for this, e.g. a doctor’s appointment, their morning attendance will be marked as ‘unauthorised’.

What should I do if I am struggling to get my child to school?

Get in touch! There are many things we can do to help you get your child to school and we take our responsibility seriously here.