Attendance Booklet for Parents 2022

When is my child late for school? IRLAM & CADISHEAD PRIMARY Your child will be marked late if he/she misses registration in his/her SCHOOLS classroom. The school doors are open at 8.40am. The register will be taken at 8.45am. After this time, children will need to enter school via Attendance Booklet the main reception and they will be marked as late. For Parents/Carers If your child arrives at school after 9.30am his/her lateness will be regarded as an unauthorised absence for that session. The end of the Sept. 2022 school day is 3.15pm Does the school reward good attendance?  The Headteacher gives certificates to the classes with the best attendance in a weekly assembly and a teddy bear mascot for the week.  The classes with the best attendance for the half term receive a cinema and popcorn afternoon.  Attendance figures are published on a notice board in the hall, in our regular newsletters and are published on the school website.  The class with the best attendance of the year will be invited to a sporting event.  At the end of each term, children with 100% attendance will receive a certificate and an attendance reward pack. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the Attendance Lead– Lisa Freer on 0161 775 2015 or send an email to [email protected]. Finally, a word of thanks for the many parents who help us to maintain the high standards we are setting for attendance and punctuality at our schools. By working together in partnership, we can provide the best opportunities for the children in our community.

In writing this booklet we are aiming to answer some frequently asked Is Leave of Absence allowed in school time? questions regarding attendance and absence. This may be allowed but the granting of this leave of absence is only for exceptional circumstances (please refer to the school attendance policy Why do I have to inform school if my child is off? on the school’s website) It is important that we receive an explanation for EVERY absence. Any Can I keep my children at home on days of religious observances, unexplained absences are regarded as truancy according to e.g. Diwali, etc. to celebrate with the rest of the family? government guidelines. We are required to complete an annual return Yes, this can be authorised by the school but please let us know in of children’s attendance with details of authorised (i.e. explained ) and advance. unauthorised (unexplained ) absences. Can I keep my child at home when the school is celebrating Easter It is very important to understand that ONLY SCHOOL CAN or Christmas because we don’t celebrate them? APPROVE ABSENCE, NOT PARENTS/CARERS. No. It is the responsibility of the school to provide an alternative It is the parent’s/carer’s duty to ensure that these requirements are education for the children who cannot participate in Christian festivities carried out, NOT the child’s. The same applies for making sure that e.g. Christmas and Easter—including rehearsals and concerts that are children arrive at school on time. part of these celebrations. Your child’s teacher, or the Attendance Lead Information about absence can be passed on to the school in several (Lisa Freer), will provide you with the details of the alternative ways, all of which are acceptable: provision, so that your child is still receiving their entitlement to an  Verbal communication by the parent/carer to the class teacher. education. Please note again, it is the school’s responsibility to provide  A telephone call to the school office—775 2015 on the first day an alternative education at appropriate times in the school year. Any alternative sessions not attended at these times, will be marked as of absence and every day following that. unauthorised absences for children of compulsory school age.  Emailing the Business Manager -Joanne Higham at What will happen if my child’s absence is unauthorised? [email protected] If there are a number of unexplained absences or absences which  In writing by yourself. appear to form a pattern the Attendance Lead for the school (Lisa Freer) will investigate them and inform our Education Welfare Officer – If we have not received a reason for your child’s absence we will Lesley Powell. You may be invited to attend a panel meeting, where the contact you by telephone on that day. We will go through the list of emphasis is on supporting you and your family to improve your child’s emergency contacts if we do not receive notice. attendance and punctuality at school. Can I take my child to the doctor or dentist in school time? When a child has 10 absences (10 half days or 5 full days) where no reason has been given, a penalty fine may be issued by the Local We would ask that you try to make appointments out of school time. Authority. Advance notice of dental, hospital or doctor’s appointments should be given, together with the appointment card or letter, so that we can If a child is taken on holiday without a request being made then this may copy it for our records. If your child has to leave school to attend an also result in a penalty fine. Please refer to the full attendance policy appointment, he/she MUST be collected. We cannot allow children to for further details (which is available on the school website). make their own way. We would normally expect to see the child in school in the session before and after the appointment. Routine dental checks should take place outside the school day.