Attendance is a high priority for everyone. The local authority and schools are committed to improving attendance and achievement, and we would like to thank parents/carers in advance for working with us to ensure the best possible outcomes for their children. Our Attendance Team, Mrs Hunt and Ms Fisk, are also here to support you with school attendance. If there is anything the team can do to help students to attend school, please contact us.

Why is attendance so important?

Being around teachers and friends in a school environment is the best way for pupils to learn and reach their potential. Time in school also keeps children safe and provides access to extra-curricular opportunities and pastoral care. Every moment in school counts. For example, a child who is absent for three days over a half term could miss 18 hours of learning, which doesn’t seem like a lot but this time adds up quickly. The higher a pupil’s attendance, the more they are likely to learn, and the more successful their future is likely to be.

How can you help your child achieve the best attendance possible?

• Allow plenty of time to get ready in the morning and have breakfast before leaving for school.

• Allow plenty of time to get to school - if you are late, please bring your child to the School Office.

• Have a bedtime routine so that they have a good night’s sleep.

 • Please do not keep your child off school if they have a ‘minor illness’ such as a cough, cold, runny nose, sneezing or sore throat.

• Children should be kept home for 48 hours from the last episode of vomiting and diarrhoea.

• If they are unable to attend school, please ring or email the school office before 9am in the morning to give details, otherwise your child’s absence will be recorded as unauthorised.

• If making a routine appointment for the dentist/ doctor, please make it out of school hours, or during school holidays. We may ask for proof of any appointments scheduled during school time.

• Talk to us. We are here to help. If you are having any difficulties that are affecting your child’s attendance at school, please come and talk to us as soon as possible so we can help you.

• Take your family holidays in school holiday time, missing valuable learning time can have a big impact on your child’s education.

 

Importance of arriving on time

Our playground gates open at 8.30am in order for children to prepare to enter the building. Until 8.40am, your child remains your responsibility. School doors open at 8.40am, inviting children to begin soft start. All children should be in school by 8.50am and registers close at 9am. If your child arrives after this time, you will need to sign them in, in the office, and they will be marked as ‘late’ on the register. Children who arrive late can often experience anxiety, entering the classroom later than their peers, and may miss out on objectives being covered at the start of the say.

 

 

Collection

Unfortunately, we have seen an increase in children being collected late from school. Please ensure you are at school on time to collect your child. If you are running late, please contact the Office to let us know. If children are collected late, they will be brought to the Office. If late collection continues, you may be asked to come in for a meeting

 

Communication you can expect from us

• Daily attendance reminder messages are sent via Parentmail to all parents/carers who have not notified the school of their child’s absence.
• Weekly Parentmails to parents/carers to whose children who have more than 2 late arrivals at school during the preceding week.
• Whole school attendance is shared weekly on the school bulletin, alongside regular updates and support.
• Attendance reports are given to parents three times across the academic year; two at the parental consultations (Oct & Feb) and with the final report in the summer term.
• Parents/carers will be notified if their child's attendance becomes cause for concern and parents will be invited in to meet with staff in line with Oak Farm’s ‘Six steps to monitoring attendance’ (outlined below);
• School staff may undertake home visits if absences are not reported, to check that the child is safe and well.
   

  

   

Is my child too ill for school?

If you’re ever unsure on whether to send your child to school, please see this NHS web page which provides advice on  range of conditions including: temperatures, anxiety, coughs and colds, chicken pox, head lice, infections and more.

Is my child too ill for school? - NHS