Attendance
Attendance-Policy
Fakenham Infant and Nursery School is committed to providing a full and enriching education to all pupils and embraces the concept of equal opportunities for all.
We will provide an environment where all pupils feel valued and welcome.
For a child to reach their full educational achievement we expect your child to be in school every week day of the school term. Ideally we would want children to achieve 100% attendance. Every opportunity will be used to convey to pupils and their parents or carers the importance of regular and punctual attendance.
School attendance is subject to various education laws and our school attendance policy is written to reflect these laws and the guidance produced by the Department for Education.
Each year the school will examine its attendance figures and set attendance/absence targets. These will reflect both national and Norfolk attendance targets. Strategies for improving attendance will be regularly reviewed.
School Procedures
Any child who is absent from school at the morning or afternoon registration period must have their absence recorded as being authorised, unauthorised or as an approved educational activity (attendance out of school). Only the head teacher or a member of staff acting on their behalf can authorise absence. If there is no known reason for the absence at registration, then the absence must be recorded in the first instance as unauthorised.
Lateness
Morning registration will take place at the start of school (8.45am). The registers will remain open for 25 minutes until 9.10am. Any pupil arriving after 8.45am but before 9.10am will be recorded as late. Parents will be asked to sign their child/children in by signing the late register and to provide a valid reason why they are late then a member of staff will take your child to class. Any pupil arriving after 9.10am will be recorded as a half day unauthorised absence, unless you are attending a medical appointment and proof of this will be required. The afternoon registration will be at 1.00 pm, the registers will close at 1.25pm.
Promoting attendance
The school will use opportunities as they arise to remind parents/carers, that it is their responsibility to ensure that their children receive their education. This will be done through our newsletter, meetings with parents and convening Attendance Panels.
The Home/School agreement states the importance of good attendance.
Holidays in term time
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT ALL HOLIDAY LEAVE WILL BE UNAUTHORISED.
This leave of absence will be unauthorised, but the school still needs to be made aware of the intended dates for which the pupil(s) will not be in attendance, so that our records can be maintained.
The Local Authority operates a system where any pupil will meet the criteria for legal intervention when they have had at least 10 sessions (5 school days) lost to unauthorised absence during the last 10 school weeks.
Attendance Awards
The school uses the following system to reward pupils who have good or improving attendance. ‘Be There Bear’ is awarded to the class that has the best attendance that week. This is awarded during our Thinking Times, we also have weekly ‘special pencil’ awards for children who have had 100% the previous week. 100% attendance certificates are awarded throughout the year.
Attendance Targets
The school sets attendance targets each year in line with national expectations. The Head Teacher will report attendance issues to the Governing Body in Head Teacher’s reports, at least termly so progress against targets set can be monitored.