Regular, daily attendance at school is vital to children's learning and wellbeing in the short term and also can have a significant positive impact on their future life-outcomes. This includes in future learning, qualifications, health and work prospects.

We aim to help you ensure your children attend school regularly. 

What time does the school day start and end?

Broadly, the school day operates between 8:40 and 3:20. Within that we operate two start times at the beginning of the day, and two end times at the end of the day. This is to enable adults to supervise children in and out of the building safely and to reduce the parking pressures on the boundaries outside the school gate.

Please check with the main office if you need a reminder or have any questions.

What do I do if my child cannot attend school at short notice?

When children are unwell, parents/carers should notify the Academy before 8:30 am of the same day. 

Telephone: 01754 764689

OR

Message us via your Xpressions App

Please include your child’s name, class and reason for absence in your email

 

Your child’s attendance is very important to us and will be monitored closely. We expect all of our children to attend everyday so that we can support them in achieving their very best potential. The Seathorne Primary Academy, in line with government directives, expects pupils to attend school for at least 96% of the time.

This equates to half a day’s absence every two weeks. If a pupil is absent for a whole day their attendance for that week drops to 80%.

The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 have removed the reference to holidays during term time and now provide that a leave of absence during term time will only be granted where an application is made in advance to the school and the school considers that a leave of absence should be granted due to exceptional circumstances relating to that application. What amounts to ‘exceptional circumstances’ is a matter of discretion for the Headteacher/Principal and should be judged on a case by case basis but it is unlikely to amount to an exceptional circumstance if it is merely claimed that a holiday abroad can only be afforded in term time or that a parent is unable to take leave during school holidays.

If your leave of absence has not been authorised by the Academy you may be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice by the Local Authority. This could result in a fine of up to £120 per parent per child.

Any parent of a child who achieves less than the expected level of attendance (96%) will be contacted and the necessary discussions and support will be provided. Actions will be agreed and monitored. Our Education Welfare Officers, Family Welfare Officer and Inclusion Team work closely with families to ensure that the children attend regularly and therefore achieve their full potential. Awards and incentives will be shared with the children on a weekly basis to make them aware of the importance of attending every day.

Learning opportunities will be varied and exciting to engage all children and ensure that they are motivated to attend our Academy.  A Family Welfare Officer is available to support families with any difficulties that they may face. 

Parents have a responsibility for ensuring their child attends the Academy regularly and punctually. The Academy expects that all parents communicate with them, either in writing or by telephone, giving a reason:

1. In advance of any planned absence.
2. Immediately following any unplanned absence.
3. During any absence expected to last more than three days

 

If you have any queries regarding Attendance - please contact Mrs Davies, our Inclusion and Attendance Officer via the main office.