Attendance - Parents Guide
1. When does my child need to be in school?
Your child should be at school in good time for registration. The morning register will be called promptly at 8.45 a.m. and the afternoon register at 1.10 p.m.
2. What happens if my child is late?
Registration finishes at 9 a.m. in the morning and 1.20 p.m. in the afternoon.
If your child arrives between 8.55 a.m. and 9.05 a.m. he/she will be marked late.
If your child arrives after 9.05 a.m. he/she will be marked absent.
(Pupils who arrive after registration should report to the school office If a pupil is persistently late a meeting will be arranged with the Head Teacher and parents/carers.
3. What do I do if my child is too ill to attend school?
We would expect a parent to telephone the school on the first day of absence 01946 695311. If you do not phone us, we will phone you. If we do not receive an explanation, or if the explanation is unsatisfactory, we will not authorise the absence, and this will be shown on your child’s end of year report.
4. What reasons will the school accept for absences?
- Illness
- Emergency dental / medical appointment (please make routine appointments after school or during the holidays)
- Day of religious observance
- Family bereavement
Except in the case of illness, you should ask for permission for your child to miss school well in advance, giving full details. In cases of recurring absences through illness you may be asked to produce a medical certificate.
5. Will the School contact me if my child is absent?
The school operates a first day response to absences: we will phone you if we have not heard from you. The full first contact response is explained in the attachment at the rear of the policy.
6. I am thinking about sending my child on an extended absence for an overseas trip to visit relatives. What should I do?
The school recognises that such absence can be important for children to keep in touch with their extended family. Contact your child’s class teacher as soon as possible to discuss the best time for such a visit.
The school would strongly recommend that such absences do not take place during your child’s SATs examinations. You need to complete an application form for extended leave of absence
7. What can I do to encourage my child to attend school?
Make sure your child gets enough sleep and gets up in plenty of time each morning. Ensure that he/she leaves home in the correct clothes and properly equipped. Show your child, by your interest, that you value his/her education.
8. My child is trying to avoid coming to school. What should I do?
Contact your child’s class teacher immediately and openly discuss your worries. Your child could be avoiding school for a number of reasons. It is important that we identify the reason for your child’s reluctance to attend school and work together to tackle the problem.
