Why is Regular School Attendance so Important?
Rougham Primary School works closely with children and parents in connection with attendance so that each child can achieve their full potential. By law, all children of compulsory school age (5 to 16) must receive a full-time education.
Once your child is registered at school, you are legally responsible for making sure that they attend regularly. If your child fails to do so, you risk getting a penalty notice or being prosecuted. You also need to think about the negative impact upon the following:
Rougham Primary monitors the attendance of every child in the school and in partnership with the Tilian Academy and the Education Welfare Officer, we will work to support those children and their families who are not attending school without sufficient reason.
90% attendance sounds good, but means that your child misses the equivalent of:
Attendance a guide for Rougham parents
1. When does my child need to be in school?
Key Stage 1 & Reception
School starts at 8:40am. Your child should line up on the front playground from 8.30am in good time for this. Willow Class children will walk round the school to their classroom back door.
The morning register will be called promptly at 8:45 am.
If children arrive at school after registration but before 8.55 they will be registered as late.
Any children arriving later than this will be registered as an unauthorised absence.
The afternoon register is taken at 12.50pm
Key Stage 2
For the older children school starts at 8.45am. Children should arrive just before this and line up on the bottom playground.
The morning register will be called promptly at 8:50 am.
If children arrive at school after registration but before 9.05 they will be registered as late.
Any children arriving later than this will be registered as an unauthorised absence.
(Pupils who arrive after registration should report to the school office.)
The afternoon register is taken at 1.05pm.
2. Does the school need letters explaining my child’s absence or will a phone call do?
We would expect a parent to telephone the school on the first day of absence and on every day of absence thereafter. If you do not phone us, we will phone you. If we do not receive an explanation, or if the explanation is unsatisfactory, we will not authorise the absence, and this will be shown on your child’s end of year report.
3. What reasons will the school accept for absences?
Illness
Emergency dental/medical appointment (please make routine appointments after school or during the holidays)
Days of religious observance,
Family bereavement, funerals of immediate family,
Weddings of immediate family,
Educational visits,
Interview,
Compassionate grounds,
Unavoidable cause (e.g. weather, emergency situations etc)
Except in the case of illness, you should ask for permission for your child to miss school well in advance, giving full details. In cases of recurring absences through illness, you may be asked to produce a medical certificate.
4. What is unacceptable?
The school will not authorise absence for day trips (unless the trip provides an exceptional experience as decided by the Headteacher), visiting relatives, shopping, birthdays, etc.
5. Will the school contact me if my child is absent?
The school operates a first day response to absences. We will phone you if we have not heard from you. This is because we believe it is our responsibility to ensure your child’s safety as well as their regular school attendance.
If we are concerned about aspects of your child’s attendance or punctuality we will contact you to discuss the best way forward.
6. I am restricted in when I can get leave from my work and this is not possible during school holidays. Can I take a family holiday during school time?
Leave of absence may be granted in exceptional circumstances but this is not for holidays*. Examples of exceptional circumstances are: day of religious observance, family bereavement, funerals of immediate family, weddings of immediate family, educational visits, interview, compassionate grounds, unavoidable cause (e.g. weather, emergency situations etc)
*An exception to this is for parents on active service.
7. What can I do to encourage my child to attend school?
Ensure that there is a regular routine for getting up, breakfast and getting ready for school. Make sure your child gets enough sleep and gets up in plenty of time each morning. Ensure that he/she leaves home in the correct clothes and properly equipped. Show your child, by your interest, that you value his/her education.
8. My child is trying to avoid coming to school. What should I do?
Contact your child’s class teacher, immediately and openly discuss your worries. Your child could be avoiding school for a number of reasons – difficulties with school work, bullying, friendship problems, family difficulties. It is important that we identify the reason for your child’s reluctance to attend school and work together to tackle the problem.
In some cases, you may find it helpful to discuss the circumstances of your child’s difficulties with an Education Welfare Officer. The school may also refer you to an Education Welfare Officer who works with staff and families if difficulties with attendance arise.