Attendance
Attendance Information for Parents and Carers
Why is attendance and punctuality important?
Regular attendance and good punctuality are vital to the educational achievements and personal development of your child. Pupils who attend regularly can fully benefit from the academic, personal and social opportunities offered to them at Bankwood Primary School.
Improving attendance is everyone’s responsibility!
We have high expectations for all pupil’s attendance and we expect your child to be OTIS – On Time In School. We want pupils here, on time and ready to learn each day.
We celebrate all children who achieve 100% and aim for all children to be above 96.5%.
There is a link between good school attendance and high level attainment. Regardless of the reason, if your child is absent from school it will impact their learning.
Punctuality matters!
When your child arrives late at school, they miss the teacher’s instructions and the introduction to the lesson. Your child may also feel embarrassed at having to enter the classroom late.
Frequent lateness can add up to a considerable amount of learning lost and can seriously disadvantage your child.
How should I notify school if my child is absent?
● Contact the school on the first day your child is absent, either by telephone (01142396711) or in person, stating the reason for absence and the expected date of return. If we do not have a reason for non attendance, expect a phone call or home visit.
● If an absence continues, you must contact the school office again each day your child is unable to attend.
If your child’s absence has already been highlighted as a cause for concern, you may be asked to provide evidence to support the absence. This will be in the form of an appointment card for a medical appointment, an appointment text sent to a parent or proof of prescribed medication. This should be taken to the office in order for the absence to be authorised.
If a child is feeling mildly unwell but the symptoms are manageable with non-prescribed medication, such as Calpol for example, we will not authorise a full day’s absence. We encourage parents to treat their children at home and then bring them into school, if they are well enough to do so.
Absence will only be authorised when a satisfactory reason has been provided.
We work closely with Sheffield City Council to improve attendance at Bankwood. You may be asked to speak with an attendance officer if we have concerns about your child’s absence.
Holidays During Term Time
Our school follow Sheffield City Council Term Time Leave Guidance (click here to read this document).
All requests for term time leave must be made to the Head Teacher by filling in the Term Time Leave Request Form, which is available from the school office.
Only in exceptional circumstances will leave be authorised. Unauthorised term time leave of 5 days or more may result in a penalty (fine) in the first instance, increasing to prosecution (legal action) for repeat offences. Any prosecution is carried out by Sheffield LA on behalf of the school.
If queries are raised about any term time leave, you may be asked to provide evidence of the days taken, for example flight tickets or accommodation receipts.
If the school has reason to believe a term time leave had been taken without request, it is your responsibility to prove otherwise (doctors appointment card, proof of medication etc.). Circumstantial evidence, such as children returning to school with a sun tan, children talking about being away on holiday, or members of the community telling us that you’re on holiday, can and will be used as evidence of unauthorised term time leave.
You will be informed by letter as to the outcome of your term time leave request.
Exceptional Circumstances
Situations the headteacher may consider exceptional could include major family events, such as the wedding of a parent, or visits to close relatives who may be terminally or seriously ill. Birthdays and shopping trips are not exceptional circumstances and neither is the lower cost of holidays during term time.
It is very unlikely a leave of absence will be granted for the purposes of a family holiday. Leave during SATS tests in Y6 or at the start of a new term will not be authorised.