Attendance & Punctuality

Attendance and Punctuality

How We Work with Families

We believe in early, open and honest conversations with parents and carers. Our Attendance Lead and Pastoral Team are always available to discuss concerns and offer advice. We aim to work in partnership so that attendance challenges can be addressed in a way that helps every child thrive.

If you are experiencing difficulties with your child’s attendance or punctuality, please get in touch. We are here to help.

School Times

  • The gate will open at 8.45 and close at 8.55. Children are to then come through the front door and sign themselves in on Inventry, children will then be marked as L in register until 9.25. If a child arrives after 9.25 they will be marked as a U on the register.

Requesting Absence Leave

  • Parents must request leave in writing in advance – holiday forms are at the front office. All holidays are unauthorized and at risk of being fined.

Reporting a Child’s Absence

  • Ring 01516770425 and report absence on the school answer phone.
  • Message Fender Office Dojo and report absence

Definitions

  • Risk of Persistent Absence: Attendance consistently below 95%, translating to between 10 to 18 days of absence.
  • Persistent Absence (PA): Attendance at or below 90%, equating to 19 or more missed school days per year.
  • Severe Absence: Students absent more than 50% of the time, requiring intensive support and potential flexible adjustments to facilitate regular attendance.

Is My Child too ill for School?

Good attendance and punctuality are vital for success at school and to establish positive habits that are necessary for future success.

All parents / carers should promote good attendance and punctuality and work in partnership with the school.

It can be tricky deciding whether or not to keep your child off school when they are unwell. There are government guidelines for schools about managing specific infectious diseases. These say when children should be kept off school and when they should not.

It is important to contact school on the day your child is off. Call us and let us know that your child will not be in and give us the reason on phone 0151 677 0425 or school DOJO.

For unexpected absences (such as sickness) inform school before 9am on the first day of absence giving the reasons for absence.

  • Check the information in the leaflet “Is my child too ill for school?” www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school
  • Keep in contact with school if there are any issues at home or in school that will affect your child’s attendance, so school can offer support.
  • For unexpected absences (such as family wedding) complete the request for leave of absence form available from the school office. Please make sure you include the details about the reason for the request.
  • Take family holidays during school holidays, not during term time.
  • Make medical and dental appointments outside of school hours whenever possible. When this is not possible, take your child out of school for the least amount at time possible.
  • Help your child maintain good health through positive sleep routines, regular exercise and a balanced diet.
  • Ensure that school has three up-to-date, emergency contact names and phone numbers for adults that your child trusts.

Unauthorised Absences

Consider absences for the following reasons to be acceptable:

  • Forgetting school term dates
  • Oversleeping
  • Arriving at school after the register has closed (9am) 
  • Day trips, family outings
  • Weather (good / bad)
  • Problems with uniforms / clothing
  • Birthdays / holidays
  • Headlice or nits
  • Minor illnesses / injuries.

Expected Absences

Requests for leave of absence must be made to the headteacher Mr Hewitt, before the absence date. Absence will be authorised only in exceptional circumstances, eg: religious festivals, terminal illness, holidays funded by charities or some parental conditions of employment. You will receive a reply explaining whether the absence from school is being authorised.

Punctuality at the Beginning of the Day

Pupils should be in school every day, arriving at 8:50am. If pupils arrive late, they need to be signed in electronically at the school office. Arrival after 30 minutes late will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.

Punctuality at the End of the Day

Pupils should be collected promptly. If you are going to be late or if someone else is collecting your child, please inform school. Book your child into afterschool club if needed.

Illness – what to do . . .

Coughs, Colds and Sore Throats

It is fine to send your child in with a minor cough or common cold. If they have a fever, keep them off school until the fever goes. A sore throat and a high temperature can be a sign of tonsillitis. Encourage your child to throw away any used tissues and to wash their hands regularly.

Vomiting and Diarrhoea

Children with D&V should stay away from school until they have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 2 days (48 hours)

High Temperature

If your child has a high temperature, keep them off school until it goes.

Chicken Pox

If your child has chicken pox, keep them off school until all spots have scabbed over. This usually takes around 5 days after the spots first appeared.

Conjunctivitis

You do not need to keep your child away from school if they have conjunctivitis. You should get advice from your pharmacist. Encourage your child not to rub their eyes and to wash their hands regularly.

Ear Infection

If your child has an ear infection and a high temperature or a severe eardache, keep them off school until they feel better and their high temperature goes

Head Lace and Nits

There is no need to keep your child off school. You can treat headlice and nits without seeing a GP.

Hand, Foot and Mouth

If your child seems well enough to attend school, there is no need to keep them off. Encourage your child to throw away any used tissues and to wash their hands regularly.

Impetigo

They will need treatment from a GP, often antibiotics. Keep them off school until all the sores have crusted over and healed, or for 48 hours after they start antibiotic treatment. Encourage your child to throw away any tissues and to wash their hands regularly, and not to share things like towels and cups with other children at school.

Ringworm

If your child has ringworm, see your pharmacist, unless it is on their scalp, in which case you should see a GP. It is fine for your child to go to school once they have started the treatment.

Scarlet Fever

If your child has scarlet fever, they will need treatment with antibiotics from a GP, otherwise they will be infectious for 2 to 3 weeks. Your child can go back to school 24 hours after starting the treatment.

Slapped Cheek Syndrome (Fifth Disease)

You do not need to keep your child off school, because once the rash has appeared, they are no longer infectious, but let the school know if you think your child has it,

Threadworms

You do not need to do keep your child off school if they have threadworms. Talk to your pharmacist who can recommend treatment.