Attendance and Absence

The School’s Expectations

In order for children to make good progress they are expected to be at School every day, unless they are unwell. Excellent attendance helps a child to feel more included in the life of the School. He or she will be able to make good progress and find it easier to develop social skills. When children are away, they miss out on work and may have gaps in their learning. Periods of absence mean that children miss an important skill or lesson that enables them to complete work later in the week or the term.

Be On Time

The School doors are open from 8.45am and the lunch and attendance registers are taken at 9.00am. In order to be ready for their first lesson, children should be in their classroom and settled before 9.00am. If a child is late, he or she must come in the front door and be signed into the 'children signing in/out' folder by the parent/carer. This ensures that the child is booked in for lunch and is marked in the register. If a child arrives late and is not signed in, the School does not know he or she is on the school premises in the event of a fire.

Please do not send your child late and unaccompanied into School or up the drive. This is a safeguarding risk as school staff will not know to expect your child and you will assume he or she is safe at School.

If a Child is Unwell

If your child is absent from School because of illness, please let us know as soon as possible, preferably by 9.30am on the first day of absence. Parents should ring the School on 01728 860201 and leave a message [Option 1] detailing the reason for absence, or inform staff by visiting the School Office, or notifying the member of staff on duty at the door. If no explanation is provided then the register is marked as an unauthorised absence. 

Where a child is absent because of vomiting and/or diarrhoea, they cannot return to School until 48 hours after the last bout of vomiting/diarrhoea.

The link below has useful information on childhood ailments and the recommended period that children should be away from school.

Health Protection Agency Guidance on Infection Control in Schools

Medical Appointments

Medical appointments should be made outside of school hours wherever possible.  If your child has a medical appointment, such as doctor, dentist, optician, hospital, please advise the School Office prior to the appointment. A letter with the appointment information may be required.

Attendance

In order for your child to make good progress and maintain strong friendships, it is essential that he or she attends School. Learning is planned in a careful sequence so that knowledge and skills build upon each other over a series of lessons and weeks. When pupils miss part of a unit of work they often find it difficult to understand their lessons. In addition, where teaching staff plan catch-up programmes for small groups, the learning is specifically targeted and it is essential that all sessions are attended.

Children with good attendance......

• know what's going on;
• are familiar with routines;
• are always prepared for their next steps;
• make links with their learning;
• maintain strong friendships;
• are able to commit to roles with responsibility; and
• are more successful in their learning.

Good attendance is rewarded in termly certificates for 100% attendance and through the weekly whole class challenge in our Spotlight Assembly. Pupils’ attendance is monitored by the Headteacher in monthly meetings with the Educational Welfare Officer (EWO). Where pupils’ attendance is low the School works with parents, the EWO and other agencies to help families improve attendance. In extreme circumstances a penalty notice may be issued in line with our Attendance Policy.

Request for Leave in Exceptional Circumstances

On the rare occasion that a child requires leave in exceptional circumstances, a request should be made in writing in advance to the Headteacher. Leave will only be granted in truly exceptional circumstances and in line with the supporting guidance agreed by the Debenham Pyramid of Primary Schools.The School’s Attendance Policy is available here or under the 'Learning' tab.