Attendance at St Richard's Catholic Primary School

Working Together for Excellent Attendance

At St Richard's Catholic Primary School, we believe that every day in school matters. Excellent attendance is essential if children are to achieve their full academic potential, develop positive relationships, build confidence and make the most of the opportunities available to them.

We are committed to working in partnership with parents and carers to ensure that all pupils attend school regularly, arrive punctually and are ready to learn. Our approach reflects our Catholic values of responsibility, respect and care for one another.

Children of compulsory school age have the right to an efficient full-time education, regardless of age, aptitude, ability or special educational need. Irregular attendance can disrupt learning, limit progress, affect wellbeing and hinder the development of friendships and positive relationships.

Expectations for Parents and Carers

Parents and carers have a legal responsibility to ensure that their child attends school regularly and punctually.

We ask parents and carers to:

• Ensure their child attends school every day unless they are genuinely unwell or there are exceptional circumstances.

• Inform the school of any absence, ideally before the absence occurs or on the first day of absence.

• Keep requests for absence to a minimum and only seek leave in exceptional circumstances.

• Ensure their child arrives on time, in correct school uniform, with the necessary equipment and ready to learn.

• Provide a reason for any lateness.

• Work closely with the school and any supporting agencies where attendance concerns arise.

• Arrange family holidays during school holiday periods only.

• Support their child's learning and celebrate their successes and achievements.

Term-Time Leave

The Department for Education states that headteachers should not authorise leave during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. Requests for leave must be made in writing to the Headteacher and will be considered on an individual basis.

Unauthorised leave may result in a Penalty Notice being issued in accordance with Local Authority procedures.

We also encourage families to be especially mindful of attendance during key assessment periods and at the beginning of the academic year when children are settling into their new classes and routines.

What Parents Can Expect from St Richard's

At St Richard's, we will:

• Create a positive, nurturing environment where every child feels they belong.

• Promote a culture where attendance and punctuality are valued and celebrated.

• Meet all statutory attendance requirements.

• Monitor attendance and punctuality carefully and identify concerns at an early stage.

• Work proactively with families to understand and remove barriers to attendance.

• Maintain open communication between home and school.

• Provide support and guidance where attendance difficulties arise.

• Follow statutory attendance guidance and Local Authority procedures.

• Develop effective strategies to address persistent absence and lateness.

• Support pupils returning following a prolonged period of absence.

• Work with external agencies when additional support is required.

• Ensure all children can access a broad and balanced curriculum and achieve their full potential.

Registration and Punctuality

Registers are taken twice each day:

• Morning registration: 8:40am

• Afternoon registration: At the start of the afternoon session

Children are expected to arrive at school on time each day.

Any child arriving after registration has begun must enter through the main school entrance and report to the school office. A parent or carer will be asked to sign the late book, which records:

• Child's name

• Class

• Time of arrival

• Reason for lateness

If a child arrives unaccompanied, office staff will record the details and ask the child for the reason for lateness.

This procedure is important for safeguarding and fire safety purposes, ensuring that all children present on site are accurately accounted for.

Late Arrival

The morning register closes at 8:55am.

A reason must be provided for all lateness. The school will determine whether the lateness is authorised or unauthorised in line with current attendance guidance.

Repeated lateness can have a significant impact on a child's learning and may result in further support and intervention from the school.

Reporting Absence

If a child is absent, parents and carers should notify the school as soon as possible on the first day of absence, preferably by telephone or voicemail.

Parents must always provide information regarding the reason for their child's absence. Where no explanation is received, or the

explanation provided is insufficient, the school will follow up with parents to establish the reason for absence.

Authorised and Unauthorised Absence

Absence may be authorised where there is a valid reason, including:

• Illness or unavoidable circumstances preventing attendance.

• Medical appointments that cannot reasonably be arranged outside school hours.

• Religious observance connected to a family's faith.

• Exceptional circumstances approved by the Headteacher.

Absence may be recorded as unauthorised where:

• No reason is provided.

• The reason provided is not considered reasonable.

• Leave is taken during term time without authorisation.

• A child is absent without the school's agreement.

Monitoring Attendance

Attendance and punctuality are monitored regularly by school leaders.

We carefully review:

• Individual pupil attendance.

• Persistent absence.

• Patterns of absence.

• Repeated lateness.

• Attendance of vulnerable groups and pupils who may require additional support.

Where concerns arise, we will work with families to understand barriers and put appropriate support in place at the earliest opportunity.

Local Authority Support and Legal Responsibilities

West Sussex County Council has a statutory responsibility to promote school attendance and support schools and families in fulfilling their legal duties.

Where attendance concerns persist despite support and intervention, the school may work with the Local Authority and other agencies to improve attendance.

Parents of pupils who accrue significant unauthorised absence may be subject to legal intervention, including Penalty Notices and other actions available under education legislation.

Supporting Good Attendance

At St Richard's, our priority is always to work positively with families. Good attendance is achieved when schools, parents, carers and pupils work together.

If you are experiencing difficulties that may affect your child's attendance, please contact the school as early as possible. We are committed to providing support, guidance and practical help wherever we can.

Together, we can ensure that every child enjoys the very best opportunities to learn, grow and flourish at St Richard's Catholic Primary School.