Attendance – St Nicholas Priory Primary School

If a child of compulsory school age is registered at a school it is essential that they attend their school regularly and maintain a pattern of good attendance throughout their school career.

Excellent attendance at school is important to allow a child or young person to fulfil their potential.

Below are just some of the key reasons why it is so important children attend school:

To learn.
To have fun.
To make new friends.
To experience new things in life.
To develop awareness of other cultures, religion, ethnicity and gender differences.
To achieve.
To gain qualifications.
To develop new skills.
To build confidence and self-esteem.
To have the best possible start in life.

St Nicholas Priory CE VA Primary School

Attendance Monitoring Procedures

Pupil attendance is checked on a twice daily basis, after both morning and afternoon registration.

Telephone calls home are made to all absent pupils whose parents/carers have failed to notify the school of a reason for their absence.

Letters are sent to parents/carers and home visits are undertaken if we are unable to contact parents/carers or alternative contacts to establish a reason for absence.

Home visits are also made if we have particular concerns or if parents/carers fail to attend attendance panel meetings.

Letters are sent home for pupils whose attendance falls below 95%.

Letters are sent home for pupils who continually arrive late to school.

Panel support meetings are held for parents/carers of pupils whose attendance has fallen below an acceptable level and who continually arrive late to school.

Staff will endeavor to talk to parents/carers at the end of the school day to discuss any attendance concerns.

If all measures of support fail to improve a child’s attendance, the school has the option to impose a fixed penalty fine or to follow the fast track procedure for non-attendance which could result in parents/carers receiving a court summons.

Holidays taken in term time will not be authorised by the school and could result in a fixed penalty fine.

Pupils who achieve 100% attendance each term are presented with certificates and badges during special assemblies.