Attendance at All Saints’

Valuing Attendance

At All Saints’, the children are at the heart of everything we do, and with Christ as our inspiration, we are committed to creating a happy, safe, nurturing and inclusive school where children like to come each day, and where relationships really do matter. We truly value the connections we work hard to make with our children and their families and understand the way we communicate with one another is key. We always look to understand every situation and treat everyone with dignity, compassion and kindness.

As said, the children are at the heart of all we do here and as such, we believe their attendance and punctuality at school is essential to allow them to achieve their full and wonderful potential. Missing out on lessons leaves children vulnerable to falling behind and can put them at risk of wider harm. 

What We Expect

• All children to attend school every day and arrive on time, ready to learn
• Parents and carers to abide by their legal duty to ensure their children attend school regularly and on time
• Staff to monitor attendance, celebrate good attendance, and offer early support where needed

Our School Day

• The school day begins at 8:45am when the doors are opened to welcome the children in. We cannot take responsibility for children who arrive before this time.
• Classroom doors will be closed at 8:55am and registers will close. Children arriving after this time should use the Main School Entrance where they should be registered by their parents/carers, and may be marked as late
• Repeated lateness will be followed up by the school office and parents may be invited to a meeting to discuss support options

Reporting Absence

• Parents/carers should contact the school office absence line before 9:00am on the first day of absence, stating the reason
• Absences should be reported daily unless the school has agreed otherwise
• Medical evidence may be requested if a child has frequent or prolonged absences

Authorised and Unauthorised Absence

• Absences may be authorised for illness, medical appointments (in the rare occasions these cannot be made outside of school hours), religious observance, and for exceptional circumstances (with prior approval from the Headteacher)
• Holidays during term time are not authorised unless deemed exceptional. Such requests should be made in writing to the Headteacher.
• Unauthorised absences may lead to a referral to the Local Authority and possible fines under the education regulations.  

Persistent absenteeism

• A child is classed as ‘persistently absent’ if their attendance falls below 90%
• The school will monitor attendance closely and will meet with families to explore support options
• We are committed to early intervention and pastoral support to improve attendance

Celebrating Good Attendance

• Weekly class attendance figures will be shared in assemblies
• Children with excellent or improved attendance will be recognised and celebrated each term
• Our focus is always on encouragement and building a positive culture around attendance

Roles and Responsibilities

• Parents/Carers: Ensure regular attendance and communicate with the school regarding any absences
• Class Teachers: Monitor daily attendance and raise any concerns
• School Office: Maintain accurate registers and follow up on absences
• Headteacher: Oversee attendance procedures and make decisions regarding unauthorised absences
• Governing Body: Review attendance data and support the school in upholding the policy

Working in Partnership

Good attendance is a shared responsibility between home and school. As already stated, we always look to understand every situation and we approach each family with compassion, we are committed to working together for the benefit of every child.