Attendance

Once your child is registered at school, you are legally responsible for making sure that they attend regularly. If your child fails to do so, you risk a Fixed Penalty Notice or prosecution. You also need to think about the negative impact this will have upon your child’s learning, friendships, self-esteem and self-confidence.

As you know, attendance and attainment are very closely linked.  At Front Lawn Primary, we are very grateful for all the support we receive from parents and carers who ensure that their children attend school regularly and punctually. This allows teachers the best possible opportunity to support our pupils to reach their full potential.

The Ofsted expected minimum attendance rate for primary school children is 96%. If pupils have more than 7 days absence from school during the academic year they will not be able to achieve this. We have a strong expectation at Front Lawn Primary Academy that our pupils aim for 100% attendance so that they have access to all learning opportunities and most of our pupils have excellent attendance and punctuality.

Attendance is monitored closely at school. At the end of each term we will contact you if we notice any areas of concern. The minimum attendance level expected by us in school is 96%.

90% to 95% attendance. NEED FOR SOME IMPROVEMENT. Attendance will be monitored weekly.

89% and below. Poor with serious concern. DANGER ZONE PERSISTENT ABSENTEE. Panel meetings will be called to address issues and provide support to improve.

Although these letters will be issued termly, we will be closely monitoring every child’s attendance on a weekly basis. If your child’s attendance has dipped we may invite you for a meeting.

If your child is too unwell to attend school, ring the absence line as soon as possible to let us know. Let the school know in advance if there is a planned absence such as a medical appointment and provide evidence such as an appointment card. Telephone: 02392 475904

Where possible, make medical / dental appointments outside of school hours or in the holidays.

Medical evidence is required for every absence; if this is not provided by the parent/carer, the absence may be treated as unauthorised. For data protection  reasons school staff are not able to contact doctor’s surgeries directly. Letters are sent home whenever no reason has been provided for an absence. If there is no response to this, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised.

The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 were amended in September 2013 to state that Headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time, except in very exceptional circumstances.  Any holidays that are taken without this agreement will be recorded as unauthorised.

Attendance Rewards

At Front Lawn, we know being in school everyday is important. Just missing a few days can have a significant impact on your child’s learning and their future success. With that in mind we have come up with two ways to make coming to school a little bit more rewarding.

It will happen in two ways: 1) As a class reward  2) An individual reward.

1. Every class has a 'Potato Head' Each day, the class will look at how many children are in their class, if the class's attendance is 96% or above. They add ‘a piece’ of potato head to their 'potato'. The first class to complete the model will win a whole class treat. Once this has happened, the whole school will reset their models and the competition starts again!

2. Every child will now get the opportunity to claim a reward for their own attendance.    

If your child can be in school for 15 days in a row, they will receive a reward by 'Spinning the Wheel'.

If your child can be in school for 30 days, in a row, with no time off school, then they get to choose a golden ticket which will contain an amazon voucher. Each ticket has a different amazon voucher worth a different amount of money in it, with one envelope containing £50!

 The children will then use their voucher to buy something on Amazon.  

       Sadly, if they miss one day within their streak, then they have to reset and start over. 

       Class teachers will take extenuating circumstances into account

         Please support us in getting your child to school everyday, as every day does count!

Lates

Punctuality is key to success, not just at school but in the workplace also. We are getting your child ready for the future and the expectations that go with that!

* School starts at 8:30am, and gates open at 8:25am

* Doors to classrooms open at 8:30am and they will shut at 8:40am

* If your child arrives after 8:40am they have to come through the school reception and they are allowed to    join their class.

* 8:45am onwards, your child will be marked as late and how many minutes over 8:45am will be counted, E.g. Arrive at school for 8:48am - your child is 3 minutes late etc. 

* You will be expected to complete a late form every time you are late, explaining why late and what time you arrived at school, at reception. 

* School will monitor lateness and look for patterns, and if need be, we will invite your for a meeting to see how we can support you and your child.