Attendance

Education is the most important gift we can give our children and a day lost is one day too many. At St Cuthbert’s C E Primary School, we believe that excellent attendance is linked directly to raising achievement and helps develop skills for life. Please support the school in its aim to raise the achievement of your child by ensuring that they attend school every day and arrive on time.

 Our aim for attendance is 96%.

ATTENDANCE & PUNCTUALITY

Our school has very high expectations for attendance and punctuality for all Children.  Attendance at school is an essential component for a child being able to achieve to the best of their abilities in all aspects of school life.  To attain this goal we set an attendance target at a minimum of 96%. 

In order to help all children achieve their attendance targets, and for safeguarding, we have a number of procedures that we ask parents to be aware of.

PUPIL ABSENCE

Absence from school must be reported via the School office before 9:00am on every day that your son/daughter is not present at school.

If a child is unable to attend school:

• Parents/carers should telephone the school stating a full reason for the absence before 9am
• Be sure to update the school on every day that your child is absent
• Parents will be contacted by telephone if children do not arrive in school by 9.00am. In some instances a home visit will be undertaken.
• Parents must sign the child in at the office on arrival at school.

We would expect children to attend all non-emergency medical/dental appointments outside of school hours. 

LATE ARRIVAL AT SCHOOL

If your child arrives at school late (after the bell at 9 am), they will only be able to access the building via the main entrance due to all other doors being locked for security reasons.  They must report to the office to ensure they are marked in the relevant registers and to give an explanation for their lateness. All late arrivals are logged in a ‘late System’ for the Pupil Wellbeing Co-Ordinator.

PERSISTANT ABSENCE

Persistent Absence (PA) refers to a percentage attendance of under 85% whether authorised or unauthorised by the school. Children who have attendance below 90% or who show a sharp decline in attendance without genuine cause will be referred to the Pupils Wellbeing Co-ordinator in school and discussed with Inclusion Officer (IO) who may choose to meet with parents to develop strategies to improve attendance and/or punctuality.

MEDICAL EVIDENCE
If your child's attendance falls below 90% the school will require a Medical Certificate or Doctor/Consultant's letter confirming dates of absence and medical conditions (the school will accept appointment cards, photocopy of prescription or photocopy of medicine labels as proof of absence). The school will not authorise any absence unless this information is received, and only at the discretion of the Head Teacher and Pupil Wellbeing Co-ordinator.

PLANNED ABSENCE
The school requires parents/carers to submit a Notification for Leave of Absence form that should be completed and returned to the school at least 15 days before the proposed absence. Holidays during term time will be unauthorised for all year groups. A penalty notice can be issued for unauthorised holidays. (Notification for Leave of Absence forms can be obtained from the school office).

Weekly Attendance Race

In order to encourage good attendance we hold a weekly attendance race.  The winners are celebrated in our Friday worship. Our aim is for attendance to be at least 96%.

Week Ending 13/09/24

EYFS- 100%

Year 1- 92%

Year 2- 96%

Year 3- 95%

Year 4- 86%

Year 5- 94%

Year 6- 96%

Whole School Attendance- 94%

Week Ending 06/09/24

EYFS- Phased Start- 100%

Year 1- 93.5%

Year 2- 90.8%

Year 3- 97.8%

Year 4- 93.9%

Year 5- 100%

Year 6- 96.1%

Whole School Attendance- 95.6%