We have a number of initiatives in school to help promote the importance of good attendance in school amongst the pupils and parents/carers. Absence has a negative impact on the academic achievement your child reaches in school and later at high school.  Occasional days off school soon mount up and parents are not always aware of the impact of this. 

Our attendance policy is available to view on our Policies page.

Holidays and Absences (Non Medical) in Term Time

In all cases, an Absence Request Form must be completed (available from the School Office) and handed to the Office several weeks ahead of the planned absence.  Full reasons for the absence should be provided in the form. 

Where there are cases of exceptional circumstances e.g bereavement, the absence may be authorised at the Head Teacher's descretion. 

Holidays will only be authorised in term time if there are execptional circumstances: The School may also refer the child to the Education Welfare Officer where the attendance level is a concern. The School may also request a Penalty Notice to be issued from the Suffolk County Council Attendance Officer. Please ask at the Office for Penalty Notice Information or see the Suffolk County Council Website).

Attendance Levels

Good attendance is considered to be where children's percentages are in the region of 96% and over - this is what we aim for in the majority of children.

Where the absence levels drop below 95%, we may consider this a concern and as such would assess the child’s attendance level, punctuality and reasons for absence.  The school may send a letter to parents to make them aware of  the drop in their child’s attendance level and look at ways to improve it.

If a child’s attendance level continues to fall, with little or no improvement, and the absence level is considered to be unacceptably low, the school will write to the parent/carer. They may also be referred to the Education Welfare Officer, who regularly monitors attendance levels in School have if it does not improve. 

The percentage levels that trigger these actions are based on guidelines from the local authority and Education Welfare Officers.

We understand that there are circumstances that impact on attendance, such as long term illness, surgery, disability etc. and this is taken into consideration.  If your child is likely to be in this category, the level of attendance is managed differently according to the individual needs of the child.  Because of these exceptions, it is essential that parents continue to communicate with us regarding absences and provide evidence to the school such as appointment letters etc.

What is Good Attendance?

Why should I arrive on time for school?

Our school gates open at 8.45 am each day, children need to seated in class ready to work at 9 am. Registration takes place by 9 am. Children who arrive after this time are marked late (Late or Unauthorised) depending on how late they are. Children need to report to the office on arrival if late, so the reason for their late arrival is recorded on their school attendance record. Children who are regularly late will be monitored and may be referred to the Education Welfare Officer (see our Attendance Policy for further information).  If your child has a problem with late arrival please contact the school to discuss the matter further, so we can try to resolve any problems.

It is important that children arrive in school on time every day for a number of reasons.

• It is the legal responsibility of parents/carers to ensure that children attend their registered school on time each day.
• If a child is late they miss important information about the day’s activities.
• A child that is late will miss school work.
• Children that arrive in good time for registration are able to talk to their friends before school and settle into the school day with them.
• A child that is late disrupts staff and other children.

The table below shows how lateness can add up over the school year:

(Days are school days and calculated over a school year.)

Medical and Dental Appointments

Routine appointments should be made out of school hours and in school holidays so the absence does not impact on your child’s learning.

In  other cases the School Office must be notified of any medical or dental appointments during school hours.  The school is required to see the the original appointment letter or card prior to the absence and we will take a copy for our records. In these cases, the absence will be marked in the register as an ‘M’, an authorised absence.

If we are not informed, or you do not provide an appointment letter or card, the absence in most cases will be marked as unauthorised.

Children are expected to be in school in the morning if the appointment is late morning or early afternoon, and return to school, where reasonable, after the appointment. For early morning appointments children are expected to return to school after the appointment.