The school staff, alongside the LEA and the Government, firmly believe that regular school attendance is key to achieving the best outcomes. Research clearly demonstrates a link between regular attendance and educational progress and attainment. We will do all we can to encourage parents/carers to ensure that the children in their care achieve maximum possible attendance and that any problems that prevent full attendance are identified and acted on promptly.

Our attendance policy can be found below and is based on the following guidance:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-improve-school-attendance

Expectations

We expect that all pupils will:

• attend school regularly;
• attend school punctually;
• attend school appropriately prepared for the day;
• discuss with their Classteacher or another adult in school, any problems that deter them from attending school.

We expect that all parents/carers/persons who have day to day responsibility for the children and young people will:

• Make sure their child attends every day on time
• Call the school to report their child’s absence before 9am on the day of the absence and each subsequent day of absence (unless advised by the attendance officer that there is no need), and advise when the child is expected to return
• Provide the school with more than 1 emergency contact number for their child
• Ensure that, where possible, appointments for their child are made outside of the school day
• Seek support, where necessary, for maintaining good attendance, by contacting the attendance officer, class teacher or headteacher.

Students leaving during the school day

• Pupils are not permitted to leave the premises without prior permission from the school.
• Whenever possible, parents should try to arrange medical and other appointments outside of school time;
• Parents are requested to confirm in writing the reason for any planned absence, the time of leaving and the expected time of return.
• Parents must sign children out on leaving school and sign them back in on their return.
• If a child leaves the school site without permission their parents will be contacted. Should the school be unable to make contact with the family it may be appropriate, in certain circumstances, to contact the Police to register the child as a missing person.

Registration and Punctuality

Punctuality to school is crucial. Lateness to school causes disruption to that individual’s learning and to that of the other pupils in the class. It is paramount therefore that all pupils arrive at school on time.

• Registration takes place at 8.50am and students who arrive after registration will be recorded as late for school.
• If a pupil arrives at school after 9.00am the parent/carer must sign in the late book to ensure their presence on site is noted, particularly in the case of a fire drill.
• Morning registration will close at 9.30am. If a pupil arrives after this time, the lateness will be recorded as a O code (an unauthorised absence) and can be subject to prosecution.
• Lateness will be dealt with through the school monitoring system and may be referred to Education Welfare.
• Afternoon registration will take place at 1pm
• The school day ends at 3.20pm each day