Parents have a legal duty to ensure the regular and full time attendance at school of registered pupils (Education Act 1996).
Our approach to promoting attendance and punctuality is based on best practice guidance from the Local Authority and DfE guidance.
As a school we aim to:
- maintain an attendance rate of a minimum of 96%
- maintain parents’ and children’s awareness of the importance of regular attendance
- ensure parents/carers take responsibility for children’s attendance at, and absence from, school.
Good attendance is important because:
- statistics show a direct link between under-achievement and poor attendance
- regular attenders make better progress, both socially and academically
- regular attenders find school routines and school work easier to cope with
- regular attenders find learning more satisfying
- regular attenders have an easier transfer to secondary school
As a parent you can help us by:
- ringing on the first morning of all absences with the reason and saying when the child will return
- arranging dental and doctor’s appointments out of school hours or during school holidays
- sending in a note explaining the reason for absence on your child’s return to school after an illness
- keeping us updated by telephone or letter if your child has an extended period of absence due to illness
We will:
- take the register promptly at the beginning of the morning session and at the beginning of the afternoon session.
- record registration directly onto SIMS using the present or absent codes; the admin team will allocate the correct code, liaising with the Senior Lead for Inclusion where necessary.
- follow up unexplained absences by phone calls, text message and letters as soon as possible
LBHF have provided the following information for parents:
Lateness – it does you no favours
Do you know where your child is
Minor sickness and school attendance
Penalty Notices – fines for your child’s non attendance at school
Is my child too ill for school? (NHS)