Attendance 

Children are expected to attend school for at least 96% of the time.

• Attendance below 96% is a cause for concern and needs improvement
• Children with attendance below 90% are regarded as persistent absentees, and may be referred to the Education Welfare Team which could lead to a fine being issued.

Absence is acceptable in these reasons:

Acceptable reasons for absence:

• Fever
• Vomiting and diarrhoea
• Very heavy colds
• Childhood diseases, such as chicken pox.

Please phone the school absence line 0208 959 8881 on your child’s first day of illness, giving as much detail as possible. A general response, such as ‘being sick’, is not acceptable: details will be required and medical evidence may be requested.

Patterns of absence

We will ask to meet with you if your child has any of the following:

• Three or more absences in any one half term
• Taken absence on the same days each week (e.g. Mondays or Fridays) and/or
• attendance of 90% or below.

This meeting will be an opportunity to discuss ways to improve your child’s attendance. A referral to the Education Welfare team will be considered.

Exceptional or special leave

In the case of exceptional or special circumstances, parents or carers must make a request to the Headteacher for short periods of leave. Leave can only be authorised at the Headteacher's discretion. In making the decision, the Headteacher will consider the child’s current attendance percentage and any previous applications and absences. Documents are essential to support the application.

Permission for absence for a holiday, for travelling or to visit relatives, will NOT be given under any circumstances. Families who take holidays in term time will be issued with a fixed penalty notice.

Absence for religious observance

We recognise that many of our families celebrate different religious festivals throughout the year. If your religious celebration falls within term time, we will grant you one day’s absence for you to celebrate the event. Any extra days are classified as unauthorised and we may issue a fixed penalty notice. 

Every minute in school counts!

Being late means your child misses important social time with friends before the day begins, reading time, time to browse in the book corner and change a book, vital information at the beginning of the first lesson making it harder to learn.

Help your child to come to school on time by:

• Getting everything ready for school in the evening
• Having the same early bedtime routines every night
• Getting up early every morning
• Eating a good breakfast
• Allowing plenty of travel and parking time
• Aiming to arrive at 8.45am (lessons start at 8.55am)

Arrive after 8.55am and your child will be marked late. If you arrive after 9.15am and your child will be given an unauthorised absence mark. Six or more unauthorised absences in a four week period may result in a fine.

Rewards for good attendance and punctuality

• Every child with excellent attendance and punctuality in a half term receives a certificate
• Every child with 100% attendance and punctuality in a year receives a certificate and a reward which is presented at a special assembly
• The class with the best attendance each week receives a certificate and a trophy.