Attendance Matters
Our school gates open at 8.35am, and the school day starts at 8.45am, and the gates will close at this time. The school day ends at 3.15pm. This constitutes a 6 hours and 30 minutes school day, or a 32 hours and 30 minutes typical week.
The school scrutinises registers regularly to identify any patterns of absence/poor punctuality these are then discussed with the Headteacher to see there is anything the school can do to assist. In cases where attendance and punctuality do not improve further support will be sought from the Local Authority Attendance Team.
Your assistance in setting good attendance patterns early is much appreciated and it will help your child later on in their education. Thank you for helping your child to succeed.
Local Authority information and guidance about attendance can be found at: https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/education-learning/schools/attendance-behaviour
Guidance on infection control in schools and other childcare settings
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Never has this been truer!
You all know attendance is important to us and will continue to be so. Not because of any targets we or others set for us but because when your child is not in, they are missing their education. Children have missed so much time in school over recent years.
Attendance and punctuality are an important part of good behaviour and such an important life skill. It is an essential requirement in any job and habits formed early become embedded.
Pupils who miss valuable time in classrooms fall further behind and become more disengaged from the work of the class, it is hard to regain this ground and hard to motivate pupils when attendance drops.
Please do contact us if you are having any difficulties or face challenges we may not be aware of before it becomes a problem that we need to raise with you.
I am sure you are looking forward to travel and holidays abroad again but I do want to set expectations now. As a school we will not be authorising holidays this year.
Every day in school counts. We will be monitoring attendance and lates on a daily basis from now. I am sure there will be a lot to celebrate.
If you would like support with encouraging your child to attend school in the mornings, we offer Wellbeing Breakfast Clubs, funded by the school for those children who need a little more support. We offer Love Art club on Mondays, Better Wellbeing club in Forest School on Tues, Weds and Fridays, and our very popular choir on Thursdays. Please contact the school office for more details.
Expectations
• Call before 9am explaining absence each day your child is off school – this is for safeguarding reasons.
• Ensure you provide a written letter of explanation when your child returns in addition to the call so we can maintain accurate records.
• If your child’s absence is longer than three days we would expect medical advice to be sought.
Withdrawal from Learning
- In line with DFE and East Sussex Guidance Ditchling (St Margaret’s) CE Primary and Nursery school will not authorise pupil absence for withdrawal from learning in term time, unless there are unusual and compelling circumstances. This applies to absences of any length.
- All withdrawal from learning requests should be made to the Headteacher by completing a form available from the school office.
- The Headteacher will speak to every parent regarding their request
- It is possible that unauthorised absence will trigger involvement from the Local Authority Attendance Team, you could be liable for a fine.
