Attendance

Good attendance and punctuality is very important because:

• 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, school work and friendships easier to cope with
• Regular attenders find learning more satisfying
• Regular attenders settle into high school more easily

Regular attendance is vital and is monitored and reported on according to statutory regulations.

The Department for Education has set a target of at least 96% attendance for each child and we expect every child to achieve at least that from Nursery onwards.

Reporting an absence 

All absences MUST be reported, please call the school on the day of the absence.

Please call 0208 422 9630/0208 864 7265 and select option 1. Please leave a clear message.

Alternatively select option 4 if you would like to discuss the absence with someone.

As a school, we will:

• Follow up unexplained absences by phone calls and letters as necessary
• Conduct Home visits if required 
• Remind parents of the importance of regular attendance and punctuality in our letters, the school brochure, parent evenings, Home-School Agreement and pupil reports
• Publish our attendance rate in the school profile and the Governing Body’s termly report 
• Acknowledge and reward good attendance and punctuality
• Publish your child’s attendance rate on her/his annual school report
• Let you know if we have concerns regarding your child’s attendance and punctuality
• If we continue to have concerns make a referral to the Local Authority School Attendance Officer, who visits the school regularly to review and support attendance and punctuality issues

As a parent, you can help us by:

• Ensuring your child attends school regularly. Absence should only happen when your child is significantly ill and therefore unfit to attend school, or if there is an unavoidable/unforeseen reason or circumstance which is causing a difficulty
• Calling on the first morning and then daily if necessary, of any absence to give us the reason and tell us when your child is likely to return to school
• Arranging all non-emergency medical appointments out of school hours or during school holidays
• Provide medical evidence for any absence relating to illness directly before or after a school holiday
• Provide medical evidence for an absence of illness lasting more than 3 days
• Keeping us updated by telephone, letter or email if your child has any extended period of absence
• Making sure we always have your current contact numbers; this includes all telephone numbers, child minders and emergency contact details

Holidays during term time will not be authorised under any circumstances. However, it is recognised that, in very exceptional circumstances, leave of absence may have to be taken in term times. Permission in these circumstances needs to be discussed prior to taking leave with the Headteacher.

If you wish to request any leave, you will need to put this in writing and send to the school office.

Attendance Levels

Should my child go to school today?