PARENT SURVEY

The Local Authority are asking all primary schools to share a link to an MS Forms Survey for parents' views of school absence.  This is to support a comprehensive review into persistent absence in primary school. H&F are hoping to gather as many submissions as possible of this questionnaire by the end of this half term so that they are able to gain insights to some barriers faced by parents.

Attendance 

Attendance is a whole school priority and requires the full support of everyone in the school community.

Children must only be absent from school if they are ill.  Our school acknowledges that sometimes our pupils cannot come to school because they are really unwell - and that's the right thing to do for them and other students.  Medical advice is clear however that children with mild illness will often be well enough to attend - for example if they have a cough, or cold, without a temperature.  The NHS guidance https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/ is designed to support parents in their decision making about mild illness. 

If your child is going to be absent, please contact the school on 0207 603 5333 or email admin@addison.lbhf.sch.uk before 9am and provide the reason for the absence.

Regular Attendance

Regular attendance at school promotes pupils’ well-being, maximises progress in learning and helps pupils reach their potential.  The attendance pattern for all children is monitored weekly with the school seeking to work actively with parents to ensure a regular pattern is maintained.

All children have the right to an education and we have put in place appropriate procedures to support this.  We believe that the most important factor in promoting good attendance is development of positive attitudes towards school and learning.

Good attendance is important because:

• Statistics show a direct link between under-achievement and absence below 95%

• Regular attenders make better progress, both socially and academically

• Regular attenders find school routines, school work and friendships easier to cope with

• Regular attenders are most successful in transferring between primary school, secondary school, higher education and employment or training

Attendance Rewards

A report is run fortnightly for attendance and punctuality. The class that achieve the highest attendance within a fortnightly period is awarded in assembly with a class certificate and trophy. 

Absence during term time

The law does not grant parents an automatic right to take their child out of school during term time.  Permission must be sought in advance and must be for ‘exceptional circumstances’.  Absence from school will only be authorised in exceptional circumstances.

If the Head Teacher refuses your request and the child is still taken out of school, this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence and may make you liable to a Fixed Penalty Notice fine of up to £120.

Punctuality 

• Children are expected to arrive at school by 8.45am. All children need to be in their classrooms and ready at the beginning of lessons which start at 8:50am
• Children arriving after 8.45am are considered late and must enter the school through the main entrance gate on Addison Gardens

If a pupil is late within a two week period a letter will be sent informing Parent/carer of the child's minutes late.  If no improvement, Parent/carer are invited to attend a punctuality meeting with the school's Attendance Officer to discuss poor punctuality and reasons why.  If pupil continues to be late, another punctuality meeting will be held with the Attendance Officer and Head Teacher or Senior member of staff and an Action Plan is created.