Attendance & Punctuality

The school gate is opened at 8:40am.   The school day starts promptly at 8:50am and the gate is locked at 8.55am.   Any children arriving after this time must use the Visitors Entrance.

 

The School Gate opens at 8.40am and all children go directly to their classrooms where activities are available until registration begins at 8.50am. 

 

Children should be collected punctually at the end of the day as the Road Crossing Patrol shift finishes at 3.25pm.   If you normally collect your child and are delayed your child will wait inside the school until you arrive.   Please inform us if someone different is collecting your child.   All children in Class 1 must be collected from the courtyard

 

Punctuality is an important life skill. Children must be in class by 8.50am each day. Registers will be taken as soon as possible after that time. Children will be marked late if they arrive at school after the registers have been taken.  The school gates will be shut by 8.55am. Children who arrive after that time must come into the building via the main office and their lateness will be noted and monitored. 

 

If the arrival at school is after the registers have closed the pupil will receive a ‘U’. This equates to an un-authorised absence although we are aware that the pupil is on the school premises in accordance with health and safety.

 

Pupils who are consistently late are disrupting not only their own education but also that of the other pupils. Lateness is considered to be an equally serious absence. Parents, guardians or carers of pupils who seem to be developing patterns of lateness will be reminded of the importance of good time keeping. If lateness continues parents, guardians or carers will be invited to meet with the Head Teacher to discuss the reasons. 

 

All parents should arrange their annual holiday within the school holidays.  Parents/carers of children of statutory school age have no automatic right to remove their children for holidays (or other family reasons) in term time.  However, we appreciate there may be exceptional circumstances which will be considered at the point of application.   Whilst the Head of School may give approval in exceptional circumstances (e.g. to enable a family to travel to attend a pilgrimage or attend a funeral), approval is not given as a matter of course.   We will consider every request for leave of absence individually.   The most important consideration is the effect an absence would have on your child’s education.   If you decide to take your child/children out of school without permission, a request for a Penalty Notice may be issued.

 

Penalty Notices are issued to each parent of each child and the amount of the penalty will be £120 to be paid within 28 days, reduced to £60 if paid within 21 days. Failure to pay the penalty in full at the end of the 28 day period may result in prosecution by the Attendance Service.

 

If you child is ill, please telephone the school office before 10:00am on the first day of absence and again on the third day to update us if they are still off school.