School Attendance

At St Bartholomew’s Church of England Academy, we place great importance on regular attendance and punctuality. Missing school has a significant impact on children’s progress, both academically and socially, and we want every child to achieve their full potential.

Regular attendance helps children build strong routines, form positive relationships, and fully access the curriculum. Our staff work closely with pupils and families to support good attendance and punctuality. If you are experiencing difficulties, please contact your child’s class teacher or the Attendance Team via the school office. Where appropriate, the SENDCO or Headteacher may also offer additional support.

Our Legal Duty

We have a legal duty to promote and monitor attendance and must publish attendance figures. Children are expected to attend school on time, every day, unless an absence is unavoidable.

Permitting unnecessary absence is an offence, and as part of our safeguarding responsibilities, we must follow up all unexplained or repeated absences with parents/carers.

We will always support families in any way we can and, where further help is needed, we will signpost parents and carers to appropriate services.

Reporting Absence

Parents/carers must inform the school of a child’s absence by 9:30am latest on each day of absence and update the school office with any changes to contact details (we require at least two contacts per child).

If no contact is made, we will:

• Contact parents/carers and emergency contacts
• Carry out a safe and well home visit
• Request a police safe and well check if needed

Every half-day of absence must be recorded by the school as either authorised or unauthorised.

Authorised absences include:

• Illness
• Medical or unavoidable appointments (proof required)
• Exceptional circumstances that have been approved in advance
• Unauthorised absences include:
• Absences that are not explained
• Arriving too late to receive an attendance mark
• Holidays taken in term-time without authorisation
• Keeping a child off unnecessarily (e.g., shopping trips)

Medical/dental appointments should be arranged outside the school day wherever possible. Where unavoidable, please provide medical evidence in advance.

Punctuality

Being on time is essential for your child’s learning. Persistent lateness means:

• Your child misses the start of learning
• It can affect confidence and progress
• It causes disruption to the class

Morning routine and register times

• The school gates open at 8:30am.
• Classroom doors close at 8:40am. The class teacher will take the register for the school day to begin.
• If your child arrives after 8:40am but before 9:10am, they will receive an L code – this means late before registers close. Children must enter through the school office.
• If your child arrives after 9:10am, they will receive a U code – this means late after registers close and is classed by the DfE as an unauthorised absence for the morning session. Children must enter through the school office.

Did you know?

• Being 5 minutes late every day = 3 days of lost learning each year
• Being 15 minutes late every day = 2 weeks of lost learning each year

Persistent lateness may result in a penalty notice and fine.

Term-Time Holidays

Government guidance does not allow children to be taken out of school for holidays during term-time except in the most exceptional circumstances.

Unauthorised holidays will be recorded as unauthorised absences and may result in a penalty notice or prosecution.

Encouraging Good Attendance

Throughout the year we celebrate and reward good attendance:

• The class with the highest weekly attendance receives the attendance trophy
• This class also gets 5 extra minutes of playtime and sole use of the Trim Trail on Friday
• Trolley of treats - 100% attendance during a term (watch this space for dates on when it will be available!)

We continue to work with families to support pupils whose attendance needs improvement.

Academy Closure

If the academy needs to close unexpectedly, we will communicate via:

• Class Dojo
• Text message to parents
• Local radio announcements
• Local Authority website

Preparing Your Child to Return After a Holiday

You can support your child by:

• Talking positively about school, what they enjoy, and what they are looking forward to
• Reminding them of any transition activities they attended
• Involving them in choosing/trying on their uniform, PE kit, shoes, and school bag
• Re-establishing bedtime and morning routines before term begins (10–11 hours’ sleep is recommended for primary-aged children)

Monitoring and Support

Attendance for all children is closely monitored. We will rigorously follow up any absence or pattern of lateness. The Attendance Team will work with families, including conducting home visits, to ensure children attend school daily and receive the best support possible.

We can offer a range of support to parents and carers, including arranging attendance meetings, discussing any barriers to attendance, and helping families access the right help at the right time. Our support may include signposting to external services, offering practical strategies, and working together to create Attendance Improvement Plans when needed.

Our aim is to work in partnership with families to ensure every child can attend school regularly, feel supported, and make positive progress.

Our full Attendance Policy is available on our Policies page here.