Attendance

Every day at school counts. The evidence is clear - even a few days of missed school can have a significant impact on a child's education and future prospects.... At primary school, children who attend school nearly every day in Year 6 (95-100% attendance) are 30% more likely to reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths compared to similar pupils who attend 90-95% of the time.

From the DfE's "Why school attendance matters, and what we’re doing to improve it"

We believe that regular attendance is key to every child’s success. Attending school consistently helps children develop essential skills, build strong relationships, and make the most of their learning opportunities. We are committed to working in partnership with parents and carers to support excellent attendance, ensuring that every child has the best possible chance to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Absence Reporting

If your child is absent from school for any reason, please inform us as soon as possible. You can leave a message on our voicemail service at 0121 353 1738 (Option 1) or call the school office directly. This ensures we comply with Department for Education (DfE) regulations on attendance and absences. If we have not received a message by 9:30 am, we will contact you to request a reason for the absence.

When leaving a message, please provide specific details, including:

Symptoms (if your child is unwell)
When the symptoms started
Any medical advice received

If the message is vague (e.g., “not well”), a member of our office team will need to call you for further information.

For cases of vomiting and/or diarrhoea, your child must not return to school until they have been symptom-free for 48 hours following the last episode.

Punctuality

Punctuality is essential in shaping a positive learning environment where children can thrive. Research shows that arriving on time helps children settle into routines, reducing anxiety and ensuring they start the day ready to learn. When pupils arrive punctually, they demonstrate respect for their teachers and peers by valuing everyone’s time and learning opportunities. It also fosters a sense of responsibility, as children understand the importance of being prepared and accountable for their own education.

To support these values, our school has established specific arrival times:

Nursery: Doors open at 8:55 am and close promptly at 9:00 am.
Reception: The playground gate opens at 8:40 am; classroom doors open at 8:45 am and close at 8:50 am.
Years 1 to 6: The main playground gate and classroom doors open at 8:40 am and close at 8:50 am.

Children who arrive after these times must be taken by their parent or carer to the main office to be signed in.

By ensuring children arrive on time, parents and carers help instil lifelong habits that will benefit them well beyond school. Punctuality is not just about being on time—it’s about preparing children to be respectful, responsible, and ready to embrace challenges with a positive attitude.

Authorised and Unauthorised Absence

Ensuring regular school attendance is a legal obligation for parents and carers in the UK. Unauthorised absences—those not approved by the school—can lead to legal actions, including fines and prosecutions.

Examples of authorised absences:

Illness - If a child is too unwell to attend school, especially with contagious illnesses.
Medical or Dental Appointments - Which cannot be arranged outside of school hours
Religious Observance – For recognised religious festivals or ceremonies.
Approved Educational Activities – Including school trips, sporting events, or exams off-site.
Exceptional Circumstances – These are rare and at the Head Teacher's discretion.

Examples of unauthorised absences:

Unapproved Holidays During Term Time: Taking a holiday without the headteacher's authorisation is typically unauthorised.

Unexplained Absences: Failing to provide a valid reason for a child's absence can result in it being marked as unauthorised.
Truancy: When a child misses school without parental knowledge or permission, the absence is unauthorised.
Arriving Late Without Valid Reason: Late arrival after the register has closed (after 9.15am), without an acceptable explanation, may be marked as unauthorised absences.

Holidays during term time are generally not considered exceptional circumstances and are unlikely to be authorised. Taking children out of school without permission for such reasons may result in fines or legal action. To avoid these consequences, parents should prioritise regular attendance and seek approval from the school for any planned absences.

For children of compulsory school age (over five), if their absence meets the national threshold for a penalty notice (10 sessions within a rolling 10-week period), the school will refer the case to the Local Authority. Each parent responsible for the child’s attendance may be issued a penalty notice.

From August 2024, the fine for a first penalty notice is £80 if paid within 21 days, rising to £160 if paid within 28 days. If a second penalty notice is issued to the same parent for the same child, the fine will be £160, with a 28-day payment period. A third penalty notice cannot be issued within three years of the first; instead, if the threshold is met again within this period, alternative enforcement action will be taken.

Monitoring Attendance and Punctuality

Parents and carers can easily track their child's attendance through the Arbor app or parent portal.

We collaborate with the Education Welfare Service (EWS) at Walsall Council to monitor and support attendance and punctuality across the school.

Persistent absence is defined as missing 10% or more of school, while severe absence refers to missing 50% or more. Reducing both forms of absence is a key focus of our school’s strategy to improve overall attendance.

If attendance concerns arise, actions may include phone calls or home visits from the EWS team, letters from the school or council, meetings with parents, and offering access to additional support services to remove barriers to attendance. We are committed to working closely with parents and carers to address any challenges and ensure that students can attend school regularly and benefit from their education.