We hope that all of our pupils leave school equipped with a life-long love of learning and the resilience to adapt, succeed and find happiness, whatever life path they choose. Social, emotional and mental wellbeing; academic success; a sense of belonging, and an ability to make and sustain friendships are all linked to good attendance and punctuality at school.

We hope this at-a-glance guide is useful when understanding our attendance policy. Please see our full policy on our website for further information.

• Parents have a legal duty to ensure their children receive an education and are at school daily.
• The Headteacher must implement the Attendance Policy fully and consistently, ensuring all staff understand their responsibility for attendance and safeguarding to maximise children’s attendance.
• The Headteacher must have clear processes to address absence proactively, before it becomes persistent absence.
• We expect all pupils on our role to attend school every day, except in exceptional circumstances. By joining our Nursery, parents are agreeing to follow school policies.
• Classroom doors open at 8:40am and close at 8:55am. The register closes at 9:25am. AM Nursery doors shut at 8:50am, register closes 9:20am. PM nursery doors shut at 12:35pm, register closes at 1:00pm
• Arriving late, after doors shut at 8:55am (8:50/12:35 Nursery) = late mark (L).
• Arriving late, after register closes at 9:25am (9:20am/1:00pm Nursery) = Unauthorised absence (U).
• Classroom doors open at 8:40am and close at 8:55am. The register closes at 9:25am.
• Arriving late, after doors shut at 8:55am = late mark (L).
• Arriving late, after register closes at 9:25am = Unauthorised absence (U).
• School must be notified via phone or email, by 8:55am, of any sickness/unplanned absence.
• School will update all parents, every half term, on their child/ren’s attendance figure, recognise improvements and offer support where the figure is falling.
• All absence, including authorised absence, is included in the official attendance percentage.
• If official attendance falls below 80%, all absence, including sickness will be unauthorised.
• Arbor parent portal can be used to stay up-to-date with any individual child’s attendance data.

Absence

No absence will be authorised unless deemed an exceptional circumstance. Absence will usually be authorised if/when: a child is too ill to attend; a day exclusively set aside for religious observance by the religious body to which the pupils’ parents belong; attending the funeral or wedding of a close relative (parent/grandparent/sibling); an exam held by external body such as music/drama/dance that cannot be scheduled outside school; representing the county in a sporting event; unavoidable medical or dental appointments which cannot be scheduled outside of school hours, such as emergency appointments or surgery dates.

Absence will not usually be authorised for: routine medical/dental appointment; optician appointment; hair dresser appointment; waiting in for a delivery; shopping; a sibling being off sick; day-trips; long weekends; holidays during term time; tiredness; transport issues. Any illness, once attendance reaches 80%.

• Absence request forms must be completed for all planned absence at least two weeks before the date of the absence. Where the request is for a medical appointment, the appointment letter must be attached.
• 6 sessions of unauthorised absence = warning letter about fixed-penalty notice.
• 9 sessions of unauthorised absence = 2^nd warning letter about fixed-penalty notice.
• 15 sessions of unauthorised absence = fixed penalty warning notice issued: £60 per parent, per child.

Unauthorised sessions are tallied across the current and previous term. All families will be given a clean slate for September 2023.

SEN & Mental Health

Attendance of children with SEND or children suffering from social, emotional or mental health issues will be considered on a case by case basis and reasonable adaptations and adjustments made. This will be in consultation with parents/carers and follow DfE guidance:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions--3

www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-issues-affecting-a-pupils-attendance-guidance-for-schools

Why does attendance and punctuality matter?

Every session at school is 3.25 hours long. Every session absent means missed learning. It means gaps in a sequence of planned lessons and even larger gaps in knowledge.

Arriving late means: missing the social time to greet friends; missing the information about the timetable for the day; missing the key input at the start of the first lesson; missing being part of choosing a group to work in; feeling uncomfortable/embarrassed when entering the classroom.

Our school is keen to work with families to improve attendance. We have listened to the views of parents and taken on board feedback. We recognise that there is no perfect way to capture all contexts or events affecting individuals' attendance each half-term and thank parents for keeping us informed of each child's unique circumstances. Parents are able to check the most up-to-date attendance data using the Arbor Parent Portal. 

For more information about how leaders are supporting families to improve attendance, and measures the school will be taking to combat persistent absence, please see the attendance policy. Warning letters and fixed-penalty notices linked to individual attendance will continue to be sent in accordance with the school's attendance policy.