Attendance Matters at Sherdley
At Sherdley Primary School, we recognise the clear link between consistent attendance and academic achievement. The whole school community has a responsibility for promoting excellent attendance; parents, governors and all school staff.
Our whole school attendance target is 96%
Moments Matter, Attendance Counts!
Children need to attend school regularly to take full advantage of the educational opportunities available to them. Research shows that attendance and punctuality are important factors in school success.
Sherdley Primary School seeks to ensure that all its pupils receive a full-time education which maximises opportunities for each pupil to realise their true potential. The school will strive to provide a welcoming, caring environment, whereby each member of the school community feels wanted and secure. All school staff will work with pupils and their families to ensure each pupil attends school regularly and punctually.
At Sherdley Primary School we have an Attendance Support Officer, Mrs Eccleston. Together with the Pastoral Team, Mrs Eccleston supports our children and families with removing barriers to good attendance. We understand that children are sometimes reluctant to attend school and that the reasons for this are varied and may be complex. We aim to resolve any problems with regular attendance by making early contact with parents and offering support including referral to the Pastoral Team. Where children are anxious about coming to school, the Pastoral Team can offer practical support and help develop strategies to manage anxiety and encourage attendance. We aim to support parents and carers to help remove any barriers which prevent a child attending school. These could be barriers which the child has or which the parent has. Our starting point is always one of support. In return, we expect parents to contact school at an early stage and to work with us in resolving any problems together. This is nearly always successful and we try to resolve attendance issues within school.
Persistent or long-term absence has a negative impact in all areas of school life, not just on academic achievement but also on the development of key skills and friendships. Interrupted attendance makes teaching and learning difficult and undermines the educational process leading to educational disadvantage.
We expect all children to be at school, on time, every day the school is open, unless the reason for the absence is unavoidable. We will support you and your child to achieve good attendance. However, we will challenge the behaviour of children and parents who give low priority to attendance and punctuality.
Parents can support regular school attendance by:
- Making sure their child leaves for school early enough to arrive at school on time
- Supporting and encouraging their child by attending parent’s evenings and other events
- Contacting the school to discuss any concerns regarding their child’s attendance with the Attendance Support Officer, Mrs Eccleston
- Working in partnership with the school to resolve any issues that are impacting on their child’s attendance
- Making any medical appointments outside of school hours whenever possible
- Not taking children out of school for holidays in term time or for other unnecessary reasons
Levels of attendance are as follows:
Below 90% attendance: Persistent Absentee (PA).
Pupils are identified as persistent absentees if they miss 10% or more of their possible sessions. Formal intervention and referral can be actioned.
90% - 92%: At risk of becoming a Persistent Absentee (PA) pupil.
If your child is at this level, you will be made aware of the fact. You may be asked to attend a meeting, or receive a home visit regarding this low level of attendance. Attendance targets set.
92% - 94%: Needs improvement.
If your child’s attendance reaches this level, you may be invited into school to discuss strategies to improve your child’s attendance.
94% - 96%: Satisfactory.
96% - 100%: Good.
It is expected that all children should reach at least 96% attendance.
OUR SCHOOL DAY
Teachers in KS2 will meet children on the playground at 8.45am, children will be sent into class and the school day starts at 8.50am. For Early Years and KS1, teachers will meet the children on the playground at 8.50am and the school day starts at 8.55am. We do expect your child to be in school on time. If they are later than 08.50 for KS2 and 8.55 for EY and KS1, the outer doors will be closed and you will need to come into school via the main enterance.
Registers are marked at 8.50am for KS2 children and 08.55am for Reception and KS1 children and your child will receive a late mark if they are not in by that time. At 9.10am registers will be closed. For more information please view our Attendance Policy.
BIRTHDAY ATTENDANCE INITIATIVE
If your child's birthday falls on a school day, they are able to come to school wearing their own clothes. Clothing and footwear must be school/weather appropriate - particularly if it is a PE day, ie trainers to be worn. If your child is lucky enough to have a birthday at the weekend or during a school holiday this would not apply.