We want every child to feel settled, confident, and ready to learn. Regular attendance is the single most important factor in ensuring your child makes the best possible progress. Research from the Department for Education (DfE) consistently shows a clear link between high attendance and high attainment (the level of learning a child reaches). For example, statistics indicate that pupils who miss fewer than 5% of school are significantly more likely to achieve the expected standards in Reading, Writing, and Maths compared to those who are frequently absent.

To put it into perspective, an attendance rate of 90% might sound like a high score in a spelling test, but in school terms, it means your child is missing half a day of sparky, interactive learning every single week. Over a school year, that adds up to nearly four weeks of missed foundations. We are committed to working in partnership with you to ensure your child is in school, on time, and ready to thrive.

Try to establish a "Night Before" checklist with your child. Laying out the uniform, packing the school bag, and making sure they have everything they need reduces morning friction. A calm start to the day often makes the transition into the classroom much smoother and more positive for a child.

Whilst we recognise that there are times when a child will need to miss school for sickness or unavoidable appointments, it is vital that absence is kept to a minimum. The governors have reviewed our attendance policy to ensure that it is effective and understood by all. You can view a copy of our policy here.

Sickness/Appointments

To report a child’s absence, please use the Arbor Parent App or Portal.  You must do so by 8:55 a.m. each day of absence.

If your child suffers from either vomiting or diarrhoea, then they must be kept off school and can only return 48 hours after their symptoms disappear.

It is vital that we are kept updated as we are keen to ensure that any child in Y5 or Y6 who walks to school on their own is safe.

Appointments

Wherever possible please make appointments out of school hours.  If the appointment is only for part of a day then the child is expected to be in school for the rest of the day.

Term Time Absence

Government regulations allow us to authorise absence in exceptional circumstances only. Please note that:

• Any absence requests should be submitted, on the school’s Leave of Absence Request Form, at least half a term in advance, unless there is an emergency. A hard copy is available from either school office.
• Absence requests will not be authorised during assessment periods.
• Please note that family holidays are generally not considered an exceptional circumstance and so will not be authorised.