Attendance
We aim to provide a high quality education in a safe, caring and disciplined environment so that all pupils are able to reach their full potential. An integral part of this is to develop in our pupils positive feelings about education and an awareness of, and responsible attitude to, the value of good attendance and punctuality. The National expectation for all pupils is 96% attendance.
Attendance - A Guide for Parents
When does my child need to be in school?
Your child should be in the playground at 8.40am at the latest for a soft start and come into school at 8.50am at the latest. For safeguarding purposes, the playground gates which give access to classrooms will be locked at 8.55am. If you arrive at school after this time you must take your child to the main entrance and notify the office staff. The office staff record the lateness and then children will then be directed to their classroom. This lateness will be recorded in your child/ren’s end of year report. Please note that parents are not permitted to accompany their child to their classroom from this time.
What happens if my child is late?
Registration finishes at 9.00am. If your child arrives at school after this time, they will be marked late.
If your child arrives at school after 9.15am, they will be marked as an unauthorised late (which counts as an unauthorised absence for the entire morning session).
What should I do if my child is absent?
We expect a parent/carer to telephone the school and leave a message on the first day of the child’s absence, explaining why the child is absent. Please note, this does not automatically mean the absence will be authorised. You may be required to provide evidence supporting your explanation of the absence before it is authorised and where evidence is insufficient, the absence may still be marked as unauthorised.
What reasons for absence will the school accept?
- Genuine illness (not mild colds, coughs or tiredness – if you are in any doubt as to whether you should keep your child off, contact school and we can advise you.)
- Emergency dental / medical appointments (routine appointments should be made out of school hours).
- An unavoidable family emergency (evidence may be required)
- Attending an interview for another school.
In cases of recurring absences, you will be asked to produce evidence supporting your explanation i.e. Dr’s note, Hospital appointment card etc. We can also seek permission to contact your doctor directly to prove that you have attended surgery.
Will the school contact me if my child is absent?
The school operates a First Day Response system. If your child is absent and we have not received a phone call from you, we will contact you to establish why your child is absent.
If we are concerned about any aspect of your child’s attendance, we will contact you by letter and / or arrange to meet with you in school to discuss how we can resolve the problem. We also work very closely with Barnet’s Education Welfare Team and in cases of persistent absences they may wish to contact you directly to discuss the problem with you. They have a legal duty to support families with attendance and where there is insufficient progress or cooperation they may consider the use of legal proceedings.
Can we take family holidays during term time?
Family holidays should not be taken during the school term and cannot be authorised.
In exceptional circumstances, a request for ‘Exceptional Leave of Absence’ during term time may be considered by the Headteacher, who will seek advice from the EWO. Cheaper air fares or mistaking the dates of the school holidays are not acceptable reasons for booking a holiday during term time. The Headteacher will also examine the child’s attendance record and any other significant factors when deciding whether to grant any ‘Exceptional leave of absence’.
If you take your child out of school without permission from the Headteacher or if your child leaves earlier or returns to school later than was stated in your application, you may be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice from the Local Authority Education Welfare team.
What can I do to encourage my child to attend school?
Make sure that your child is getting adequate sleep and is getting up in plenty of time each morning. Show your child, by your support and interest, that you value his / her education.
If you have any concerns about any aspect of your child’s attendance, please do not hesitate to contact us and we can discuss together how best to support you and your child