Lateness and absence

Lateness

School opens in the morning at 8.50am and all children must be in school before 9am. If you arrive after 9am you will need to bring your child to the School Office sign in the ‘Late’ book.

When a child is late, they do not get a mark in the register. We use the registers in case of emergency safety procedures, together with the ‘Late’ book, to establish numbers and make sure that every child is accounted for. Please help us to ensure our records are correct. You will also need to tell the us what your child is doing for lunch. If your child is having a hot dinner, you will need to indicate their choice (either red, green or yellow) in the late book. This ensures that the office staff know what lunch to order for you child. Should you know that your child will be late coming into school, please e-mail or ring before 8.50am.

Please be assured that this is entirely for the safety and welfare of your child. It is a Government requirement that we complete the attendance register, are able to supply written evidence of latecomers and absences, and are aware of every child’s whereabouts as part of the ‘Safeguarding Children Initiative’. Even more vitally, we need a record of the fact that your child is on the premises.

Absence

For planned absences such as medical/dental appointments, please fill out an absence form. Planned absences for non-medical reasons, such as external examinations, require a letter to the admin team.

Your child should be signed out in the ‘Signing Out’ book, then signed in when they return, in the ‘Late’ book. Holidays during term time can only be authorised if sufficient evidence showing exceptional circumstances is provided. Please speak to the admin team in the office for further information.

For further information on school attendance and absence, please visit https://www.gov.uk/school-attendance-absence. 

If your child is ill, please e-mail or ring before 8.50 a.m, with your child’s name and class, the dates they will be absent and the reason for absence. Please be aware that children must be absent for 48 hours from the last episode of diarrhoea or vomiting. An e-mail will act as your child’s absence note, but if you ring, you will need to send an e-mail or an absence letter, addressed to the Office, or come to the office to sign a form. This is to comply with the aforementioned regulations, so failure to supply an absence note results in the Office staff chasing you until you submit!

When a child is ill at school and needs to be collected, a member of staff will phone you. Please make sure that we have up to date contact details. Before taking your child/children home, you must fill out  the ‘Signing Out’ book. If your child is still poorly the following day, please remember to inform us before 8.50am.