Good attendance is key to your child being able to fulfil their potential and make good progress in school. One of the most important ways a parent can support the education of their child and the child’s social, emotional and academic development is to ensure they attend every day and on time.

At Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School, we aim to encourage and assist all pupils to achieve excellent levels of attendance and punctuality.  Our target for all pupils is to achieve 97% attendance over the course of a school year, with no unauthorised absences. Poor school attendance, and/or regular late arrival, break the continuity of a child’s learning and consequently limits their academic and social progress in school.

Ensuring your child’s regular attendance at school is a parent/carer’s legal responsibility (Section 444 of the 1996 Education Act), and we want to ensure that we are doing all that we can do to support you.

Expectations of Parents/Carers:

• Ensure your child arrives for school on time.
• Telephone school if your child is to be late.
• Contact school by 9am on the first day of absence if your child is unable to attend through illness, giving an indication of the expected duration and return date to school.
• Book holidays/appointments out of school time.

Expectations of School:

• Telephone and text the parent/carer on the first day of absence if we have not heard from

them by 9am.

• If no response is received and the absence is unauthorised a member of school staff will

conduct a home visit.

• If a pupil’s absences are increasing and we are not aware of a good reason the parent/carer

will be invited to meet the School Learning Mentor and Head teacher.

• If absences persist the School Learning Mentor and Headteacher will discuss actions with the Education Welfare Officer.

We use a Red, Amber, and Green code to rate attendance:

Punctuality

Punctuality is recognised as an important part of a successful working life. Setting an early good example establishes a routine which your child will be able to follow on their own when they are older. (See school day times)

It is not acceptable for children to arrive late to school as they may miss an important start of a lesson, may disrupt a lesson or they may feel embarrassed. Children will receive a late mark if they arrive after the register has been taken. 

The Law

By law, all children of compulsory school age must get a suitable, full-time education. As a parent/carer, you are responsible for making sure this happens. Once your child is registered at Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School, you are responsible for making sure your child has regular and punctual attendance at school. 

The Local Authority (LA) is responsible for making sure that parents/carers fulfil their responsibilities, and the school must tell the LA if your child is regularly absent from school. As a parent/carer, you are committing an offence if you fail to make sure that your child attends school regularly. You run the risk of being prosecuted by the LA if your child’s attendance is poor.

Holidays/ Leave of Absence

The law states that you must ask permission for your children to miss school. Leave in term time will only be agreed where the Head teacher feels there are exceptional circumstances.  On occasion we may ask for evidence to support the reason provided, particularly from employers if it is a work related request.

If you are requesting a holiday during term time or leave of absence you must complete a leave of absence request form and hand it into the school office, you will then be notified in writing as to whether or not the absence has been authorised.

Parents/Carers who take a child of compulsory school age on holiday without permission may be issued with a Penalty Notice from the Local Authority.

What can parents do to help?

• Parents must model the value of education, including the importance of regular attendance.
• Make sure that your child goes to school regularly and arrives on time-you will establish a good habit that they will carry through life.
• If your child starts missing school, work with the school to put things right. Make sure your child understands that you do not approve of him/her missing school.
• If your child is ill or must miss school for some other reason, contact school immediately. 
• Do not expect school to approve of shopping trips, birthday treats etc. during school hours. Arrange family holidays so that your child will not miss any learning.
• Take an interest in your child’s school work and be involved in the school as much as possible-your child will value school more if you do.

Attendance Letters

The letters below will be sent home each term so that we can keep you informed of your child's attendance: 

Learning Mentor

If you are having any problems with getting your child to school or with lateness phone Mrs Rankin our Learning Mentor directly on 07973 457 736. She is also available to speak to at the beginning of each day on the Junior playground and school gates.

Please click the link below to download a copy of our Attendance and Punctuality Policy: