Attendance

 At Limes Farm Infant School we monitor attendance daily and weekly, our Wellbeing Mentor Mrs Holder works together to support families to improve their attendance. In our approach we ensure that the root cause of the absence is identified and work together with families to remove those barriers. 

We always work collaboratively with parents and carers. 

• We have high expectations, and aspire to high standards of attendance within our school culture.
• We monitor attendance and try to identify patterns as soon as possible
• We listen and understand, so that we can work together to resolve any issues.
• We facilitate early help and support. 

Regulations on attendance require us to record any unauthorised absence. Regular attendance is essential – the Governing Body is concerned that absence is kept to the absolute minimum. 

 Authorised absence is defined as:-  

• Sickness or unavoidable cause 
• Religious observance 

If your child is ill or absent from school for any reason please telephone the school on the day of each intended absence. If no explanation is forthcoming, or if school considers that the reason given is not sufficient to justify non-attendance, then the absence is unauthorised. This is noted on the child’s report and all absences are reported to the Department for Education annually. If a pupil’s attendance falls below 95% in a school term families will be notified in writing. 

Parents are expected to contact the school on the first day of absence by 9.30am our school telephone number is 020 85011115. Parents should keep the school informed daily regarding absence. 

DFE Guidance for Schools 

School Attendance is Central to raising standards in education and ensuring all pupils can fulfil their potential is an assumption so widely understood that it is insufficiently stated – pupils need to attend school regularly to benefit from their education.

Missing out on lessons leaves children vulnerable to falling behind. Children with poor attendance tend to achieve less in both primary and secondary school.

The Government expects Schools and local authorities to:

Promote good attendance and reduce absence, including persistent absence.

Ensure every pupil has access to full-time education to which they are entitled; and act early to address patterns of absence.

Parents to perform their legal duty by ensuring their children of compulsory schoolage who are registered at school attend regularly.

All pupils to be punctual to their lessons.

Family Holidays

Headteachers are not authorised to permit holidays during term time.  Any application will be unauthorised

In total there are 175 non-school days a year.  This gives families the opportunity to:

• Spend time together
•  Go on family visits
•  Go on holiday
•  Go shopping
•  Go on days out
• Attend routine appointments

You can demonstrate your commitment to your child’s education by not taking holidays during term time.

Government legislation states that Headteachers may not grant leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances

Term time holidays may result in a fine being issued per child to parents by the Local Authority.

Please remember that you do not have a legal right to take your child out of school during term time.

Lateness

Pupils should arrive in time for morning registration at 8.45am.  Children arriving after this time will need to register at the school office.  Doors are promptly closed at 8.50am to reduce upset it is imperative that children are on time.

Limes Farm Infant School closely monitors lateness.  There are three negative results caused by lateness: loss of learning, disruption to other pupils and an increase in unauthorised absence.  The school will liaise with parents and require reasons for lateness.  Our LA Officer will also periodically visit school to check attendance and lateness.

Promoting and Celebrating Good Attendance and Punctuality

At Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery we understand the impact good attendance and punctuality has on our children’s learning and we believe in rewarding good attendance and punctuality to engage and motivate our children.

Research has shown that missing 10% of the school term or more can have serious implications on children’s future achievements and their ‘life choices’.

Attendance and punctuality remains a high profile in school and with our families.

Some of the ways in which we promote and celebrate good attendance and punctuality:

• Weekly celebration assembly to award the class with the best attendance a trophy and additional playtime.
• We have and attendance board to record class attendance percentage. Miss Taylor holds a whole school assembly to celebrate 98%-100% attendance for the half term.
• At the end of the year, every child who has achieved 100% attendance is awarded a 100% medal. Their name is also put into a prize draw to win a special prize.
• Attendance information is shared on the school newsletter.
• Parents are supported of those children who require support on an individual basis.
• Half Termly letters are issued to parents of those children with concerning attendance.

Helpful Information

Please follow the link for NHS advise 'Is my child to ill for school'

 https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

nhs-advice-on-childhood-illnesses.pdf

guide-to-education-missed.pdf