Attendance

At Leopold Primary School, we expect all children on roll to attend every day, when the school is in session, as long as they fit and healthy enough to do so.  

There is a proven connection between success at school and high attendance.  We do all we can to encourage the children to attend, and to put in place appropriate procedures if attendance is poor.  We believe that the most important factor in promoting good attendance is the development of positive attitudes towards school.  To this end, we strive to make our school a happy and rewarding experience for all children.  We will reward children whose attendance is very good.  We will also make the best provision we can for those children who, for whatever reason, are prevented from coming to school.

Celebrating Good Attendance

All children who have 100% attendance will receive an excellence certificate for attendance, awarded in assembly each term.

We celebrate the class who has the highest attendance each week with a special certificate and a reward for gaining 100% attendance over a week.

Letters of reognition are sent home if children improve their attendance over the year.  These are usually children who have been monitored and their parents/ carers have been attending attendance meetings with the School Attendance Officer (SAO).

Term-time Leave

The school has adopted the policy of all requests for leave in term-time to be submitted to the Head of School or the Executive Head.  Leave will not be approved unless it is under proven exceptional circumstances and in these cases further evidence will be requested.

The Head of School or Executive Head may request a meeting with parents/ carers to discuss the request and/or documentation may be required to back up a request.  Any unauthorised extended leave or holidays taken in term-time will result in a referral to the School Attendance Officer and a penalty notice/ fine.  The Local Authority authorises the fine that is sent to families.

Punctuality

Learning at Leopold Primary School starts from 8.45am therefore getting to school on time is essential. Punctuality is a life skill.  Parents/ carers are expected to support their children with this.

To support children being in school and arriving on time, the school does the following:

• runs a Breakfast Club from 7.30am for £1 per day
• opens the school gates at 8.30am
• operates a 'soft start' from 8.30am - 8.45am

This means it would be an exceptional circumstance to be late rather than a regular occurance.

The school gates close at 8.45am.  Children arriving after this are considered 'Leopold late' as school starts at 8.45am.  The register is taken and lessons begin.

Attendance Policy