Attendance
We believe that every student deserves the opportunity to succeed and thrive in their educational journey. Consistent attendance is a vital part of this success. When students attend school regularly, they gain the full benefits of our engaging curriculum, build lasting relationships with peers, and develop the essential skills they need for future success.
The Importance of Regular Attendance
Regular school attendance is crucial for several reasons:
- Academic Achievement: Students who attend school regularly are more likely to perform well academically and stay on track with their studies.
- Social Skills: Being present in school helps students build strong social skills and friendships.
- Routine and Structure: Regular attendance fosters a sense of routine and structure, which is important for students’ overall well-being and development.
Our Commitment to Improving Attendance
In line with the Department for Education’s new guidance on “Working Together to Improve School Attendance,” we are dedicated to creating a supportive environment that encourages and rewards regular attendance. Here’s how we are working together to achieve this:
- Partnership with Parents and Carers: We recognise the vital role parents and carers play in ensuring their children attend school regularly. We are committed to working closely with families to address any barriers to attendance and provide the necessary support.
- Early Intervention: Identifying and addressing attendance issues early can prevent them from becoming more serious. We have systems in place to monitor attendance and intervene promptly when necessary.
- Positive Reinforcement: We celebrate and reward good attendance through various initiatives and recognition programmes. Our goal is to motivate students to maintain consistent attendance.
- Tailored Support: Understanding that each student’s situation is unique, we offer personalised support to address specific attendance challenges. This may include one-on-one meetings, mentoring, and where appropriate access to internal and external support services.
Together, we can make a difference in every student’s educational experience!
How You Can Help
Parents and carers can play a crucial role in improving attendance by:
- Encouraging Punctuality: Ensure your child arrives at school on time every day.
- Communicating: Inform the school promptly about any absences by calling [Insert Absence Number] or emailing [Insert Absence Email] and provide the necessary documentation.
- Supporting Routine: Establish a regular routine at home that prioritises education and attendance.
- Engaging: Stay engaged with your child’s education by attending parent-teacher meetings and staying informed about their progress.
Working Together for Success
At Burbage Primary, we are committed to working together with students, parents/carers, and the community to improve school attendance. Everyday counts, and together we can ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed.
We are here to help! If you have any concerns or need assistance with your child’s attendance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership.
Useful Resources
DfE Working Together to Improve Attendance
Is my child too ill for school?
Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty’s letter on mild illness and school attendance
Absence
If your child is unable to attend school, please notify the school office every day of the absence.
Telephone: 01672 810452
If in exceptional circumstances your child is late to school, please sign in at reception.
We ask that you please try to avoid medical and dental appointments in school time. If unavoidable, try to arrange appointments so that the minimum school time is lost.
Illness
If your child is ill, please call the school office on 01672 810452 by 9.15am on the morning of their first absence to let us know, and each subsequent day. Alternatively you can report your child’s absence by calling our absence line or emailing [email protected]. Once your child returns to school, please let us know in writing (email is fine) the reason for their absence. We are required to keep a record.
Sickness & diarrhoea – If your child has vomited, they should not return to school until 48 hours after their last bout of sickness. This is in line with NHS recommendations and helps prevent the spread of infections through the school community.
Other childhood illnesses: There is a useful document on the Public Health England website which outlines the number of days a child should be absent for due to illnesses such as Scarlet Fever, Chicken Pox and Impetigo here
Absence requests for a session/particular event – The school’s policy is to follow the Wiltshire guidance regarding holidays in term time. Mrs Garbutt does not authorise requests for absence unless they are for unavoidable appointments, or for educational purposes such as music/ballet exams or arranged activities off site. An absence request form is available from the school office.
Absence requests for holidays – Wiltshire Council’s statement regarding penalty notices for holidays taken in term time states, that if 10 or more school sessions (either continuous or aggregated) are taken for unauthorised holiday within a period of ten weeks then the Education Welfare Service will issue a Fixed Penalty Notice. If a holiday is taken without informing the school, it is automatically reported to the EWO as unauthorised, however many days are taken. If exceptional circumstances appear to warrant a holiday in term time then applications should be made to the Principal on the Holiday Request form for consideration.
In September 2024, there was a change in legislation regarding school attendance that is summarised in the letter below. It is the school’s duty to adhere to this legislation.