Excellent attendance is extremely important in our school. We want children to enjoy coming to school and make the most of all the opportunities presented to them here.
Our target for attendance is at least 97% because we want all of our students to achieve their full potential This will mean every class aiming to reach this expectation. We monitor attendance each week. Mrs Garnett our Welfare Officer monitors our school attendance and will be the member of staff who will contact you should your child’s school attendance fall below our school target.
Please read this page to learn more about attendance, how we support this and how are trying to improve the attendance of our pupils here at Greenbank Primary School.
Government research shows that students who have less than 90% attendance (20 or more days missed in a year) achieve, on average, a whole grade lower than expected in examinations. There is a link between the number of days a child is absent and their average earnings in later life. A child is not in school 175 days a year – there is therefore plenty of time to go shopping, take holidays, visit family or attend routine appointments outside of school.
Having good attendance is not all about attainment; your child is also developing essential social skills which will benefit them in their future endeavours. Research has shown that children who are not in school are most vulnerable and are easily drawn into crime. Those children who play truant are more likely to offend that those who do not.
A parent/carer has a legal responsibility to ensure that his/her child attends school regularly.
How you can support your child with excellent attendance and punctuality
Ensure your child is fully prepared for school each day, organise your child’s school uniform and encourage your child to check they have the correct. equipment, homework and PE kit the night before.
- Ensure you child attends school every day and arrives on time, in order to keep up with school work.
- Show your child that you think school is very important.
- Praise your child’s achievements.
- Get them into good habits early on.
- Recognise that children can get into bad habits from an early age and that these are hard to break later.
- Attend any meetings in school to which you are invited.
- Let the school know as soon as there are any problems or changes.
- Do not keep your child at home if your child is worried or has a problem, e.g. bullying. The best way to support your child is to ask for a meeting in school to explain any difficulties and to address problems. The more time your child is absent from school, the harder it will be for them to return.
- Make sure your child has a good night’s sleep and wakes up in good time for the school day, arriving no later than 8.40am.
- Organise non-urgent medical appointments outside of school time.
- Take time to talk to your child about what they have done in school.
- Contact the school at the first opportunity if your child is genuinely ill or is unable to attend.
- Talk to someone at the school if there is a problem or reason why your child finds it difficult to attend regularly.
Absences
It is essential that you inform school if your child is going to be absent. This can be done in the following ways:
- Calling the school office (0151 522 5748) before 9.30am and speak to the office or chose the option to report your child’s absence.
- Send a message on Parent App via the ‘Absence Reporting’ option within the App.
Please do not report your child’s absence to their class teacher as it is the school office that need to be informed. If we do not hear from you we will call you to clarify why your child is not in school.
Persistent Absenteeism
If your child’s attendance is below 90% this is classed as persistent absenteeism and is of major concern to the school and the Local Authority.
If your child’s attendance falls below 90% you will be written to in order highlight our concerns and offer any support that we can. You may also be invited into school to discuss the matter further. We may require medical notes if the attendance shows little improvement and a referral to the Education Welfare Officer may be made.
Term Time Holidays
The Department for Education has made it very clear that schools should not authorise holidays in term time unless there are very exceptional circumstances. We are often provided with reasons such as work commitments (unless in the armed forces) and special family occasions such as birthdays and weddings or ‘surprise’ holidays booked by family members which cannot be accepted.
You may receive a penalty notice if you take a holiday in term time and if this is part of any further concerns about your child’s attendance additional action may also be taken.
Dental & Medical Appointments
Whilst the school will grant requests for absence for dental and medical treatments, parents/carers are encouraged, whenever possible, to book medical and dental appointments outside of the school day. When appointments during school hours are unavoidable, school should be notified in advance, of the date and time of the appointment and when the child will be collected. It is expected that the child will return to school after any appointment where possible. Evidence of the appointment will be requested.
