Regular attendance at school promotes pupils’ well-being, maximises progress in learning and helps pupils reach their potential. The attendance pattern for all children is monitored weekly with the school seeking to work actively with parents to ensure a regular pattern is maintained. One of our basic principles is to celebrate success. Good attendance is fundamental to a successful and fulfilling school experience. It is our duty to promote 100% attendance for all children. For our children to take full advantage of the educational opportunities offered it is vital that our pupils are at school, on time, every day the school is open unless the reason for the absence is unavoidable.

All children have the right to an education and we have put in place appropriate procedures to support this. We believe that the most important factor in promoting good attendance is development of positive attitudes towards school and learning.

Good attendance is important because:

• statistics show a direct link between under-achievement and absence below 95%
• 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 most successful in transferring between primary school, secondary school, higher education and employment or training

The Governing Body and Head teacher, in partnership with parents have a duty to promote full attendance at school.

At  Hazlmere Church of England Combined Primary  School  and  Nursery  we  believe  attendance  and  punctuality  is  crucial  to  our  pupils learning.    It is important  for  children  to  attend  school  regularly  so  they  not  only  learn,  but  also  improve their social skills and raise their self-esteem. We will  do  all  we  can  to  encourage  each  child  to  attend  regularly  and  on  time.  

We  will  identify  any problems and act upon them and endeavour to support parents and carers in their role. 

 Our Expectations For our pupils:

•To attend school regularly 

•Pupils are encouraged to arrive at school by 8.40am

•Registration is 8.55am – the school gates are shut promptly

•All pupils that arrive late must report, with their parent, to the school office where the reason for lateness is recorded

For our parents:

•To ensure that their child attends school regularly

•To ensure that their child is punctual 

•To inform the school if their child is absent, and why, on the first day of illness

•To send a letter into school on their return confirming the reason for the absence

•To  let  the  school  know  if  there  is  a  problem  with  their  child  attending  school,  so  we  can  offer support and endeavour to find a solution

•To support the school in its aim to raise its achievements through good attendance and punctuality

Promoting Good Attendance:

As a school we encourage and reward good attendance and punctuality in the following ways:

•Class certificates awarded Termly

•Attendance Bear awarded weekly

•Attendance certificates are presented to children with 100% attendance over a term

•An  attendance  certificate  and  an  award  for  children  with  100%  attendance  over  the  whole academic year.

 Our rewards are reviewed regularly to introduce new ideas if necessary and to ensure their effectiveness. Communication We  will  communicate  to  our  parents  the  importance  of  good  attendance  and  punctuality.    Parents  are given information on illness and absence in the school induction process, this highlights the importance of being at school on time and notifying us if their child is absent for any reason.

Parents  are  asked  to  share  any  worries  their  child might have  in  school.    Sometimes  little things  upset a child  which  means  that  they  become  unhappy  and  may not  want  to  come  to  school.    We  hope  that  by working together we will be able to solve such problems. 

 At school we are required to keep register, which is a legal document and we must record the reason for any child’s absence.  All parents are asked to contact the school if their child is absent.  This can be done by telephoning or by leaving a message on the school answerphone (01494 521420  or email the school office)

A letter also needs to be sent to school when your child returns, explaining the absence.  If no notification is received about an absence on the first day, the parent/carer will contacted.

Concerns

 If  a  child  is  regularly  late  for  school,  or  is  often  absent,  then  the  parent/carer  will  be  contacted  by  the school  either  by  text,  telephone  or  letter.    If  there  is  an  urgent  concern,  then  the  Headteacher  will be informed  immediately  and  she  will  discuss  this  with  the  parents/carers  before  taking  the  appropriate action.

Re: Punctuality

School starts at 8.40 a.m. every day. Children need to be in their class at 8.40 a.m. so that they can start their lessons promptly.

Children who arrive late are greatly disadvantaged because they miss starting the day with their peers and the beginning of lessons. This means that they are often unsettled and confused about tasks. Their teacher will not always be able to re explain work.

It is also very important that children establish good routines and habits in preparation for the rest of their lives. Punctuality is a life skill that they need to develop whilst they are young.

It is essential that you ensure that your child arrives at school on time to prevent disruption to your child’s own learning and that of others.

We are required to monitor children’s punctuality and attendance. On-going lateness (after the class register has been taken) is classified as an unauthorised absence and this is inline with The Education Act.

We understand that there may be rare occasions when you are unavoidably late due to unforeseen circumstances. On these occasions please make sure that you contact the school office to inform us when you will arrive.

If you are experiencing difficulties with punctuality and would like to talk to us about it, please make an appointment to speak to us.