Attendance and Punctuality

School Opening Times 

School starts at: 8:45am (children need to be arriving from 8:40am)

KS1 Lunchtime: 12 noon - 1:15pm

KS2 Lunchtime: 12:15pm - 1:15pm

School closes at: 3:15pm

Please note that we do not accept responsibility for children who arrive at school before 8.40 am. If you normally meet your child from school but are likely to be delayed please contact school as soon as possible. 

Attendance and Punctuality

Attendance and punctuality are carefully monitored. Your child’s attendance record will be reported to you at the end of each year. Regular attendance at school is vital to a child’s educational development.

Parents are expected to:

  •  Ensure their child attends every day the school is open except when a statutory reason applies. 
  • Notify the school as soon as possible when their child has to be unexpectedly absent (e.g. sickness) and by 9am.
  • Only request leave of absence in exceptional circumstances and do so in advance.
  • Book any medical / dental appointments around the school day where possible
  • Ensure their child arrives at school on time each day

School will:

  • Follow up unexplained absences by a phone call and/ or by text message
  • Let you know if they have concerns regarding your child’s attendance
  • Work in co-operation with the School Attendance Officer

Holidays

Holidays should be booked in line with the school term dates. Holidays taken in term time will not be authorised. Requests for leave of absence for exceptional circumstances should be discussed with the Headteacher well in advance and an Exceptional Leave Request Form completed. 

Parents  may receive a Penalty Notice from the Local Authority for taking their child on holiday in term time. Penalty Notices are £80 per child per parent if paid within 21 days and £160 per child, per parent if paid after 21 days.

Further information can be obtained from www.dfe.gov.uk

Click to Download Absence During Term Time Request Form 2026 [pdf 260KB] Click to Download
Click to Download Attendance Policy [pdf 580KB] Click to Download

Why is good attendance important ?

  • Statistics show a direct link between under-achievement and poor attendance
  • Regular attenders make better progress, both socially and academically
  • Regular attenders find school routines and school work easier to cope with
  • Regular attenders find learning more satisfying
  • Regular attenders have an easier transfer to secondary school

 

                                         Attendance Traffic Lights

100%

Excellent

Well done. This will help your child to be successful at school.

 

96% - 99%

Very Good

Try to avoid further absences if you can.

93% - 95%

Cause for Concern

Trigger for school monitoring.

95% is equivalent to ¼ of a day off each week.

92% or less

Poor

Absence affecting attainment & progress at school.

90% is equivalent to ½ day off each week.

85% or less

Unacceptable

Serious concern. Absence is disrupting your child’s learning, attainment & progress. Leading to EWO involvement / fixed penalty fine.

Every School Day Counts

Being late adds up to a loss of learning.

  • If you are 5 minutes late every day that adds up to over 3 days lost each year.
  • 15 minutes late is the same as being absent for 2 weeks a year.
  • Being late every day can add up to a lot of lost learning time.

Please help your child to get into good habits & be punctual.