Although it may seem like an obvious thing to say, a child’s attendance at school is vital in allowing them to make progress in their learning and build on their understanding of the world around them. By attending school every day, pupils provide themselves with the very best opportunity in allowing them to reach their full potential across their curriculum subjects. Consistent attendance at school also promotes pupil well-being and allows them to develop and maintain a good social network- an important element in child development, which can not only prevent them from feeling lonely, but feeds into the successes they have within the classroom.
At Barleyhurst Park, one of our basic principles is to celebrate success. Good attendance is fundamental to a successful and fulfilling school experience and it is therefore our duty to promote 100% attendance for all children. In order for our children to take full advantage of the educational opportunities offered, it is vital that our pupils are at school, on time, every day the school is open unless the reason for the absence is unavoidable.
Arriving late for school, even though it may only seem like a few minutes, can have a big impact on the outcomes a pupil sees that day. Being late can disrupt a child’s routine, which can affect their emotions and concentration during lessons and can also make them feel vulnerable. At Barleyhurst Park, the start of the day offers many pupils the opportunity to engage in intervention sessions to help fill gaps in their learning or address misconceptions from the previous day’s learning. Arriving late for school, means that these opportunities are taken away from these pupils, making it harder for them to progress in their learning.
At Barleyhurst Park, we monitor attendance regularly and work closely with parents and carers to ensure a consistent, positive attendance pattern is maintained.
Good attendance is important because:
- statistics show a direct link between under-achievement and absence below 95%;
- regular attenders make better progress, both socially and academically;
- regular attenders find school routines, school work and friendships easier to cope with;
- regular attenders find learning more satisfying;
- regular attenders are most successful in transferring between primary school, secondary school, higher education and employment or training.
Why is good attendance important?
Regular attendance is vital for academic success. Pupils who attend school more regularly are more likely to understand key concepts, develop good habits and make expected/ accelerated progress.
How can I report my child’s absence?
If your child is too unwell to attend school, please phone the school office as soon as you can, on 01908 378291 and leave a message explaining the reasons for the absence. Alternatively, you can email the school office at office@barleyhurstpark.com. We would appreciate it if this could be done by 8:40am.
What happens if my child has excessive absence?
Whilst we appreciate some absences are unavoidable, if a pupil’s attendance figure drops below 90%, you will receive communication from the school, usually in the form of a letter. This will highlight what the current attendance figure is and will offer the opportunity to meet to discuss how we can work together to improve the overall attendance figure.
What should I do if my child is sick or has diarrhoea?
A child must be kept off school for 48 hours after the last bout of sickness or diarrhoea. We appreciate that this isn’t ideal as it means they may feel fine the next day, but this is DfE guidance to help reduce the spread of germs.
What should I do if my child is sent home feeling unwell/ has a high temperature?
If a child is sent home feeling unwell, but has not been sick, they able to return as soon as they are feeling well enough in themselves, this would usually be the next day.
What should I do if my child has a medical appointment?
Medical appointments, where possible, should be arranged for out of school hours. For appointments where there is no other option, please ensure your child is away from school for the shortest possible amount of time.
What happens if I book a holiday during term time?
Holidays should be booked out of term time to prevent a child’s learning from being interrupted and to enable them to establish good routines. If a holiday is booked in term time, it is important the school is made aware at the earliest opportunity. A pupil request for leave of absence for should be completed. Depending on the duration of the term time holiday, you may be subject to a fixed penalty notice (FPN) from Milton Keynes Council.
What should I do if my child has a cold?
If your child has a cold they can, and should, still attend school.
What should I do If my child has covid?
If your child tests positive for Covid, they are expected to stay at home for 3 days. Please contact the school to let them know.