Our target for every child’s attendance and punctuality is 100%.

Children and young people who attend school regularly have a much better chance of succeeding in life. Regular attendance is essential for raising educational attainment and tackling underachievement.

At Stoneferry we promote good attendance using a reward system and celebrate it regularly in assemblies.

Parents

Parents have a responsibility to ensure that their children receive full time education and to let the school know immediately if their child cannot attend school and the reason for such absence. When a child enrolls at Stoneferry Primary School the parents, child and Headteacher enter into a Home School Agreement. A key element of this contract is the partnership between the home and the school, and the importance of securing regular attendance and good punctuality.

Absence

Please inform the school by 8:45am by phone, email, or in person, if your child is unwell and unable to attend school. We will telephone/text parents if your child is absent from school if we have not received notification. If parents do not provide a reason for their child’s absence, we will follow our attendance policy and safeguarding procedures. This may involve the attendance officer calling parents and making a home visit. If we cannot contact parents, the absence will be marked as unauthorised. An ‘unauthorised absence’ is when your child is absent from school without good reason.

Routine Appointments

Medical and dental appointments should, whenever possible, be arranged for after school or during school holidays. If this is unavoidable please inform the school as early as possible. Children must attend school before and after the appointment time.

Punctuality

Punctuality is important and late arrivals disrupt the routines of the school, as well as missing important learning at the start of the school day. We would therefore request that parents make every effort to ensure their child/ren are in school for 8.45am.

Term Time Holidays

School’s have no authority to authorise absence for a family holiday during term time. Any such absence is unauthorised. We would appreciate advanced notification of any absence wherever possible so we can account for your child’s absence without needing to call or text you.

There are a small number of very exceptional circumstances when a holiday absence may be granted. These are defined as:

• Service Personnel and other employees (e.g. Farmers) who are prevented from taking holidays outside term-time.

• Acute crisis, emergency or significant event within the family, where the family needs to spend time together to support each other (e.g. bereavement, terminal illness / life limiting illness of close family member)

• Court order/formal agreement where parents have separated

Each case is dealt with individually and if parents feel their reasons are exceptional circumstances, they will be asked to explain their reasons in full and provide supporting evidence to support their case.

Cause for concern

A child is classed as a persistent absentee if their attendance drops below 90%.

Any pupil whose attendance drops below 90% (for any absence) will be closely monitored and any further drop can lead to Fixed Penalty Notice Fine and/or the matter being placed before the Magistrates Court.

Should you require any attendance support, please contact Mrs Pulford or Mrs Havercroft.