Attendance and Punctuality

Holidays in Term Time

Requests for absence during term-time

• Due to Government legislation we are no longer able to authorise any holiday during school time. This absence will therefore be recorded as unauthorised absence on your child’s attendance record unless this is deemed to be an exceptional circumstance which would need to be agreed by the Headteacher.
• Where a family is known to have siblings at any other school in the Ridgewood Pyramid, a discussion will take place between the two or more schools and an agreed decision will be made.
• A Penalty Notice may be issued by the Local Authority following your child's absence. Penalty notices are issued at £60 per parent* (if paid within 21 days) and £120 (if paid within 28 days) for each child. An ‘Exceptional Circumstances’ application form is available from our school office or by clicking the link below
• If you do not notify us but we have evidence that your child has been on holiday, a fixed penalty fine may still be issued.

A Parent/Carer Guide to Good Attendance

What are my responsibilities regarding my child’s school attendance?

As a parent/carer it is your responsibility to ensure that a child of compulsory school age attends school both regularly and punctually. The Local Authority has a duty to ensure that all parents/ carers fulfil this responsibility.

Why is it important for my child to attend school regularly?

• Regular school attendance and good punctuality means your child can make the most of their education and this will improve their choices in adult life. It will also help them when they enter the world of work.
• School helps children and young people with their social skills, making and maintaining friendships, building confidence and self esteem.
• If your child does not attend school regularly it could affect their attainment grades in exams, tests and assignments because of missed work.

How can I help my child attend school regularly?

• Always talk to your child about school.
• Take a positive interest in your child’s work including homework. 
• Keep in touch with school staff via planners/homework diaries or speaking with their teachers.
• Always contact your child’s school on the first day of absence.
• Attend parent’s evening and other school events. 

Can I get help if my child is not attending school regularly?

You should always contact the school first to discuss your concerns. They should be able to offer support and advice. If school staff are unable to resolve the issues they may suggest you contact the Education Welfare Officer for advice and guidance.

What will happen if my child does not attend school regularly?

• The school should contact you if they are concerned about your child’s attendance.
• A referral could be made to the Learner Engagement Service (Attendance & Pupil Welfare).

A range of measures will be used to enforce attendance legislation where parents do no fulfil their duty to ensure that their children attend school. These include:  

• Entry in to the Local Authority Enforcement Procedure which may lead to prosecution in the Magistrates Court and each parent may receive a Parenting Order, a Community Punishment or a fine up to £2500.
• Each parent can be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice for Unauthorised Absence, Non- Cooperation with an Education Welfare Officer or for taking an Unauthorised Holiday in Term time.

Remember school gives your child a wide range of opportunities and experiences both academic and social allowing them to develop their interests and achieve their full potential.

Punctuality - Arriving at School on time

There is a clear link between attendance and attainment; the more time a pupil spends in school the more likely they are to improve their opportunity to fulfil their full potential.

The Law states that:

A school has to take a register of all pupils first thing in the morning and sometime during the afternoon.  If a pupil arrives late to school but whilst the register is still open they are marked as late.  If a pupil arrives at school after the register is closed, without a satisfactory reason, this may be classed as an unauthorised absence and may lead to prosecution for not ensuring your child has regular /punctual school attendance.

Our Procedures if a Child is Late

Classroom doors open at 8:45am and we expect children to arrive at school for 8:45am. The classroom doors will remain open until 9am when the register is taken but learning does start as soon as the children enter the classroom at 8:45am. 

If your child arrives at school after 9am they will need to come into school via the office and will need to be signed in, giving a reason for being late. 

We monitor punctuality and if children are regularly arriving at school after 9am a meeting will be arranged with parents to see how we can support them in getting their child to school on time. 

Being frequently late for school adds up to lost learning:

• Arriving 5 minutes late every day adds up to over 3 days lost each year.
• Arriving 15 minutes late every day is the same as being absent for 2 weeks a year.
• Arriving 30 minutes late every day is the same as being absent for 19 days a year.

 If your child attends school they are more likely to succeed.

BUT REMEMBER – “IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE LATE THAN NOT TO ARRIVE AT ALL”

Information for parents/carers about punctuality

Being on time is a good thing!

• Gets the day off to a good start with everyone in a positive frame of mind.
• Helps your child make the most of their learning and sets positive patterns for the future.
• Helps children develop a sense of responsibility both for themselves and for others
• Helps your child make and keep friends.
• Improves self confidence. 

Being late is a bad thing!

• Gets the day off to a bad start and can put everyone in a bad mood.
• Can be embarrassing
• Other people can make negative comments
• May damage your child’s confidence.
• May lead to children being confused and missed vital instructions, information and bits of news at the start of the day.
• Disrupts the learning for everyone
• Can create a bad habit that can be hard to break in the future.
• Can lead to poor attendance – if a child is late for school they can start to stay away from school.

Some things that help:

• Help your child get everything ready the night before (e.g. PE kit, school uniform)
• Allowing plenty of time to get to school
• Make arrangements with neighbours, family or friends if you have problems getting your child to school.
• Make sure your child has breakfast or arrives at school in time for breakfast club.
• Help your child organise homework.
• Establish a good bedtime routine
• Make sure your child gets enough rest and is not distracted by too much time on the computer or watching TV.
• Setting an alarm clock! 

What should you do if your have a problem getting your child to school on time?

• Talk to your child first.
• Talk to your child’s teacher.
• Ask for help from someone you feel you can talk to in school.