Attendance Policy

The Education Act 1996 makes it a requirement for every child of compulsory school age to receive full-time education at school or otherwise.

Compulsory school age is when a child reaches the age of five. Good attendance and punctuality is important because:

• Statistics show a direct link between under-achievement and absence

• Regular attenders make better progress, both socially and academically

• Regular attenders find school routines, school work and friendships easier to cope with

• Regular attenders find learning more satisfying

• Regular attenders are more successful in transferring between primary school, secondary school, and higher education, employment or training

• Punctual learners are ready to learn, access all opportunities in school and do not miss vital learning time

Attendance Expectations:

• We expect children to attend school every day that the school is open.

• On occasion, children may be too ill to attend school. Parents/carers must notify the school if this is the case.

• Regular attendance is defined by the two bullet points above.

• Parents/carers are responsible for ensuring their child arrives at school on time.

School will:

• Promote and reward good attendance

• Fulfil their legal obligation in relation to registration practice

• Reduce absence, including persistent absence through support and intervention

• Ensure every child has access to appropriate education

• Act early to address patterns of absence

• Engage in legal intervention if we believe a child’s is being denied access to education through condoned absence

Parents will:

• Perform their legal duty by ensuring children who are registered to a school attend regularly

• Ensure their child arrives on time in school each day

• Inform school, before registration, of child’s absence with a valid reason

• Do everything they can to prevent unnecessary school absences such as by making medical and dental appointments outside of school hours.

• Keep school informed of any circumstances that may affect a child’s attendance

• Ensure school has at least two, up-to-date contact numbers.

Please come in and see us if you have concerns or questions about our attendance procedures.