Every school day counts

Being at school, on time, every day is vitally important for your child's education and social development.  Children who have lots of time off school struggle academically and find it hard to build relationships with the other children.  Like you, we want the best for our pupils and that is why we expect good attendance at school - we define good attendance as 95% and above. 

Pupil absence is monitored weekly and we will write to you if your child's attendance is a cause for concern.  We use a traffic light rating system for attendance and we will use this rating system in our correspondence with you.

 

Absences from school are only authorised in exceptional circumstances.  Term time holidays will not be authorised.  You need to complete a leave of absence request form if your child is going to be absent.  Paper copies of the form are available from the school office. Once your request has been submitted, the Principal will classify the absence as 'authorised' or 'unauthorised' and this will be recorded on your child's registration certificate

Please inform us of any absence by 8.30am on the first day of absence (and on each day of absence, unless otherwise agreed) by telephoning the Academy office on 01733 264294

 

We congratulate our children by offering exciting incentives at the end of each half-term for the class with the best attendance, both in EYFS/ KS1 and KS2. All our children can see how their class is doing, through a discussion held in our Friday assemblies, when the class attendance for both EYFS/KS1 and KS2 is announced each week and by looking on their classroom door at the class weekly attendance percentage. They enjoy checking to see their class position with excitement each week.

You can really help us provide the best for our children by following our school absence procedures:

• Only allow your child to be absent from school due to exceptional circumstances. 
• Please communicate with us, so we can support your child as much as possible.

Please refer to our 'Attendance Policy' below for further details.

 

Punctuality

When children are late, it disrupts their morning routine and some of them find it unsettling, which can have a huge impact on the rest of their day. 

• Your child will be expected to enter school at 8.30am as legal registration takes place at 8.50am.
• Please note, if your child arrives after 8.50am they will be marked as late in the register.
• If your child arrives after the legal registration has closed (i.e. after 9.15am) this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.     

 

Attendance Below 95%

This is the procedure we follow when your child's attendance falls below 95%:

Step 1: Parents/Carers made aware of attendance concerns.

• Attendance shows no sign of improvement and remains below 95%.

Step 2: Parents/Carers invited to a meeting at School with the Principal and Family Support Worker to discuss any barriers and discuss support needed.

• Attendance continues to be a concern with no significant improvement.

Step 3: Parents/Carers requested to attend School Attendance Meeting to agree and sign an action plan.

Step 4: Attendance fails to significantly improve. Legal intervention considered.

 

Highlees Primary School strongly discourages any term time absences. Holidays should be taken during the school holiday period only and not in school time.

Please see the 'Term Dates' page in the 'Parents' section of this website for a list of term dates.

 

If your child has to attend an appointment in school hours, eg, doctor, dentist or hospital, the school must be informed and a 'Medical Form' form must be completed and sent to the School Office beforehand. Please give us as much notice as possible.

 

Please remember, If your child is absent you must notify the school office by 8.30am on the day of absence. We do worry if a child does not arrive at school and will always take steps to make sure they are safe and well and carryout Home Visits if we feel there is a need. 

 

For more information on school attendance and absence please follow the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/school-attendance-absence/legal-action-to-enforce-school-attendance