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Attendance

The staff of The Coombes CE Primary School are committed, in partnership with the parents/carers, pupils, governors, trustees of the Keys Academy Trust and the Local Authority, to provide an education of the highest standard for all our children.

Regular attendance is essential to achieving this. Research clearly demonstrates the link between regular attendance and educational progress and attainment. As a school, we encourage parents to ensure their children achieve the maximum possible attendance and any issues that may prevent this are brought to the attention of school staff promptly. Clear expectations of daily attendance and routines that support children to achieve this, at an early age, will help pupils throughout their school life.

If your child is unwell and cannot attend school

If your child is unwell, you should call the school (leave a message if needed) or email to report your child as not in school due to illness. If the absence is due to vomiting or diarrhoea, please do not send your child to school until 48 hours after their last bout, or if they are too unwell for school. More information and guidance on whether your child is too ill for school can be found on the NHS website

Information on requesting absence from school for your child during term time  

The Coombes Church of England Primary School, The Keys Academy Trust, Wokingham Borough Council and the government all believe that absence during term time should be avoided as it can have a damaging effect on pupils’ education and overall achievement. However, it is recognised that there may be exceptional reasons which may justify authorisation of an absence by the school.

Please be advised that Wokingham’s Children’s Services and the Department for Education have advised schools to only authorise leave of absence in exceptional circumstances. Therefore, the school will not approve any absence in term time, except in such circumstances. Please contact the school to request a leave of absence form and return to school at least four weeks before the requested absence where at all possible.

 

Expectations

We expect all pupils to:

  • Attend school every day unless they are prevented from doing so by unavoidable reasons;
  • Arrive at school on time;
  • Arrive appropriately prepared for the day; and
  • Talk to their parent/carer, class teacher or an appropriate member of staff if they are worried                                                                                                                about anything that may affect their school attendance.

We expect all parents/carers to:

  • Encourage daily school attendance throughout the academic year and be aware of their                                                                                                                          legal responsibilities;
  • Ensure their child arrives at school punctually and prepared for the school day;
  • Advise school by 09:30, on the first and any subsequent days, if their child is going to be                                                                                                                      absent, giving the reason for absence;
  • Arrange non-urgent medical and dental appointments outside of school hours or during the                                                                                                                    school holidays;
  • Avoid taking their child out of school during term-time unless there are exceptional                                                                                                            circumstances, in which case Leave of Absence must be requested in advance;
  • Contact school promptly should a problem occur that may prevent their child from                                                                                                                            attending school;
  • Notify the school of any changes in home circumstances that might affect their child;
  • Notify school immediately of any changes to phone numbers, home address or emergency                                                                                                                 contact details;
  • Ensure they are fully aware of the school's attendance policy and their legal responsibilities                                                                                                                    with regard to their child's education.

School staff will:

  • Provide a welcoming atmosphere;
  • Provide a safe learning environment;
  • Provide a sympathetic response to any pupil's or parent's/carer's concerns;
  • Keep regular and accurate records of AM and PM attendance and punctuality, monitor                                                                                                                      individual pupils' attendance and punctuality;
  • Contact parents/carers when a pupil fails to attend and where no message has been received                                                                                                                     by 10:00am, to explain the absence;
  • Follow up all unexplained absences to obtain explanations from parents. Although parents                                                                                                                      may offer a reason, only the school can authorise the absence. In the case of long term or                                                                                                                  frequent absence due to medical conditions, verifications from a GP or other relevant body                                                                                                                      may be requested;
  • Regularly inform parents/carers of the percentage attendance of all pupils (parents' evenings,                                                                                                                  end of year reports etc.);
  • Make initial enquiries regarding pupils who are not attending regularly;
  • Refer irregular or unjustified patterns of attendance to the Education Welfare Service. Failure                                                                                                                      by the family to comply with the planned support set by Education Welfare may result in                                                                                                                    further cautions, e.g. a Penalty notice, parental prosecution or an application for an Education                                                                                                        Supervision Order;
  • Notify the Education Welfare Service after 10 days unexplained absence and after 15 days                                                                                                                          of consecutive sickness absence.

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