Designated Attendance Lead: Mrs Gill Murphy (DAL)
Attendance Champion: Mrs Paula Williams
Attendance Team: Mrs Murphy, Mrs Williams, Mrs Austin and Mrs Parkinson
We expect all children to come to school everyday and to attend on time. We do not want any child to miss out on the high quality education and learning opportunities that we plan everyday.
If your child is unwell we understand that they must stay at home and get better. If you are unsure about if your child is too ill for school please contact us and discuss.
If you child is absent we will contact you as part of our school Attendance policy and procedures. You will be asked why your child is not in school and when they will be able to return. We will stay in regular contact with you whilst they are absent.
We will offer support if you need it with attendance and monitor every child’s attendance weekly. We work closely with our LA Education Welfare Officer and follow all LA Attendance policies.
Download: Attendance & Punctuality Policy [PDF]
Holidays in Term Time
Government rules are clear in relation to holidays or trips during term time. We are no longer allowed to authorise any leave for any holidays or trips during term time.
Parents/Carers need to be aware that if their child is out of school for holidays or trips, the Local Authority will always take legal action for unauthorised absences.
- Each parent/carer will receive a Penalty Notice of £120.00 for each child. This will be reduced to £60.00 if paid within 21 days of the fine being issued.
- Any such Penalty Notice or prosecution may relate to your child’s full attendance record.
- Each parent/carer may receive a court summons, which may lead to a criminal record and a fine.
- Your child is at risk of losing their school place.
We do not authorise occasional holidays/days off in any circumstances and work closely with our Attendance team and out Education Welfare Officer (EWO) to ensure all children’s attendance is of a high standard. The Government have made it very clear that children have 13 weeks holidays from school to use to go away.
We all want the best for every child in our school. We appreciate your support in this matter.
Absence
If your child is going to be absent from school please ensure you telephone school on the first day of absence. Our school operates a ‘First Response’ system. This means if we are unaware of why your child is going to be absent from school we will contact you to establish the reason for this.
We always encourage our children to attend school as much as they can. Our target for whole school attendance is 97%. This is a target we always aim to achieve and we celebrate this with our ‘Best Class Attendance’ each week in our super duper assembly.
The class that wins as a reward can play on the Nintendo Wii!
When Your Child is Unwell
It can be hard deciding whether to keep a poorly child off school. A few simple guidelines can help. Not every illness needs to keep your child from school. If you keep your child away from school, be sure to inform school on the first day of their absence by telephoning the main office.
Use common sense when deciding whether or not your child is too ill to attend school.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Is your child well enough to do the activities of the school day? If not, keep your child at home.
- Does your child have a condition that could be passed on to other children or school staff? If so, keep your child at home.
- Would you take a day off work if you had this condition? If so, keep your child at home.
Common Conditions
For more information and guidance on other infections and illnesses please take a look at the latest government guidance:
External Link: Guidance on Infection Control in Schools
If your child has an accident in school they will be treated by one of our Paediatric First Aid trained members of staff. Parents will be notified if it is felt the child needs further treatment or has had a bump to the head.