Monitoring Attendance

Absence or lateness, for whatever reason will adversely affect children’s education.  It is a legal obligation for children to attend school regularly and punctually.

• We operate a first day call system for all absent children.
• A phone message can be left by calling 0114 2872484 option 1, alternatively parents may wish to send a  text on 0114 3039012, we ask that parents provide the name, classes and reason for absence.
• Frequent or unexplained absence of more than three days will be reported to the Education Welfare Officer.
• The Registers are monitored regularly by the LA.
• Please provide appointment cards for any medical or dental appointments, etc when notifying the school office.
• At the end of each term we celebrate those children who have acheived 100% attendance.  Each week in our celebrations assembly we celebrate class attendance and punctuality.
• Copies of holiday dates and the leave of absence request can be found in the Useful forms area.

Punctuality and Attendance

We would be most grateful if children could arrive no earlier than 10 minutes before school starts.  No responsibility for accidents or injury will be accepted for incidents occurring before that time as safety cannot be assured.

Punctuality is of vital importance.  With the pace of teaching and learning, missing the first ten or fifteen minutes may set a child back for the whole day.

Similarly please make every effort to ensure that your child attends school every day, missed days are extremely difficult to catch up with.

Absence

If a child is absent then school has to be informed either by telephone, text or in writing, otherwise your child’s absence will be deemed unauthorised.

Children’s appointments

We cannot allow children to go home during school sessions without a parent or guardian.  We would also appreciate your letting us know if your child is going to be late, for example, because of a doctor or dentist appointment.

Medication

If possible a child’s medication should be administered outside the course of the school day.  However, for some children it may be necessary for them to bring medication to school, if this is the case we ask that parents come into school and administer medication however, if a parent or relative is unable to come in to school a member of authorised staff may administer medication.    Prior to staff administering medication parents must complete an authorisation form which gives clear instructions as to the name of the child, name of medication, the dosage and time to be administered.  Medication should be taken to the school office and children should report there for the administration.  Please note it is the pupil’s responsibility to go to the office at the required time and staff have the right to refuse to administer medication.  These requirements also apply to asthma medication that has to be brought to school on a regular basis however inhalers will be kept safe by the class teacher.

Parents of children who become unwell at school or have had an accident will be contacted.  It is the responsibility of parents to make arrangements for ill children by collecting them and taking them home, to the doctor or to the hospital.  It is important, therefore, that school has access not only to home telephone numbers, but work numbers and other emergency contact numbers such as those of relatives, and that these are correct and up to date.  We would be grateful, therefore, if any circumstances or telephone numbers alter, that we are informed.

Emergency Phone Numbers

Parents are asked to ensure that we have up to date information about the hours and places of work, telephone numbers and/or a contact person.  This information is very important in case children are taken ill or are involved in an accident.