Why is regular school attendance so important for my child?
Parents will receive regular updates on attendance from school and the Headteacher and all the staff monitor attendance daily, weekly, half termly and termly. Children are rewarded in school for excellent attendance and they are very clear about why excellent attendance is important.
Regular attendance at school means that your child can make the most of their education and improve their chances in adult life.
School can also help your child’s social skills such as making and developing friendships. A regular and punctual attendance pattern will help your child when they go to secondary school and later enter the world of work.
The link between attendance and attainment in school is clear.The more a pupil is in school the more they increase their opportunity to fulfil their potential.
What should I do if my child(ren) cannot attend school?
Please contact the office by 8:55am by telephone (leaving a message if no one is available). You will need to do this for every day that your child is absent. If contact cannot be made with you when your child is absent, it may be necessary for us to carry out a welfare check to your home.
Punctuality
Schools are legally required to take a register of pupils first thing in the morning and at some point in the afternoon.
If a pupil is late but the register is still open they are marked as late. If the register has already closed when a pupil arrives late and without a satisfactory explanation, it will be classed as late after the register has closed which will count as an absence. Our registers close at 9:10am.
KS2 children going onto the bus up to St Bernard’s must arrive at Sacred Heart Church at 8.30am. The bus will set off at 8.45am from Sacred Heart Church. If you plan to drop off your child at St Bernard’s, please drop off your child at Rating Lane at 8.45am where a member of staff will be waiting.
KS2 returning from St Bernard’s will get onto the bus at 2.50pm with parents picking up at 3.00pm from Sacred Heart Church. Any remaining children past 3.20pm will be taken to After School Club at the Sacred heart site. Parents picking up from St Bernard’s must collect there child by 2.50pm. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact the Sacred heart office.
Continual punctuality is important because if, for example, a child arrives 15 minutes late at school each day, they lose almost 2 weeks of education a year! Absence due to lateness (after 9:10am) will be referred to the Education Welfare Officer.
Holidays during term time
No term time leave for holidays is routinely authorised at Sacred Heart School.
Parents who choose to take their child out of school without written permission from the school may be issued with a fixed penalty fine.
Only in exceptional circumstances may a head teacher grant permission for leave.
How can I help my child attend school regularly?
- Talk to your child about school
- Take a positive interest in your child’s work, including homework . Follow what your child’s class learns on their Class Dojo page, Facebook and Twitter.
- Use the apps and sites we have available to help your child learn such as “Showbie”
- Keep in touch with school staff
- Contact school on the first day of absence if your child is unable to attend for whatever reason
- Attend parents’ evenings and other school events
- If your child is anxious or worried about going to school, please contact your child’s class teacher so we can support you.
What should I do if I’m worried about my child’s school attendance?
The first thing to do is to contact the school to discuss your concerns.
What are my responsibilities regarding my child’s school attendance?
As a parent/carer it is your responsibility to ensure that any child of compulsory school age attends school both regularly and on time. The local authority has a duty to make sure that all parents/carers fulfil this responsibility.
What will happen if my child does not attend school regularly?
The school should contact you in the first instance to raise concerns about your child’s attendance. If they see no improvement, or there are particular difficulties involved, a referral will be made to the Education Welfare Service.
What if my child’s school attendance does not improve?
Parents whose children are on a school register and fail to ensure the regular and punctual attendance of their child(ren), may be guilty of an offence under Section 444 or 444(1A) of the Education Act 1996 and the Local Authority may issue a Penalty Notice or take enforcement action through the Courts to secure regular attendance.
How will regular school attendance help my child?
School gives your child a wide range of opportunities and experiences in the form of academic lessons, educational trips and school clubs allowing them to develop their interests and achieve their full potential. Regular school attendance means that your child can make the most of their education.