Attendance at school is really important for your child's learning and development. As a school we want all children to achieve 100% attendance, but we understand that there are occasions when children are sick or need to take unavoidable absences, however, if your child's absence drops below 90% in any half term, we will send you a letter arranging to discuss this.

Our school day begins at 08:30 when all students are expected to be in their class ready to learn. All absences must be reported to the school office by 08:45. You can do this by calling the school office on 01246 234546.

If a pupil is below the school’s 96% target, a letter will be sent out reminding parents about the importance of attendance and that this will be monitored closely.

Who Is responsible for monitoring attendance at Spire Junior School?

Jo Boulton – Attendance Lead

Charlotte Vernon & Jane Melbourne – Attendance Pannel

Roberta Hearnshaw & Sharon Bennett – Register Monitoring and Attendance Administration

Marie Fidler – Attendance Governor

How do we support our students in having good attendance?

Attendance is such an important part of your child's educational development. At Spire Junior School, we adopt many strategies to support our students in having good attendance. We strive to work with our families to help the root causes of absence and remove the barriers to attending school.

Children with 100% attendance for the term will receive a certificate in special assembly and those with 100% attendance for the year will take part in a reward. Last year, the reward was a trip to the cinema.

Requesting time off school

If you need to take your child out of school for any length of time, please inform us by filling out our leave of absence form. Paper copies can be obtained from the office. We cannot authorise absences including holidays in term time unless they are in exceptional circumstances. If an absence is not authorised, you could be at risk of receiving a Penalty Notice.

A penalty notice is a fixed fine issued by Derbyshire County Council at the school’s request. The fine will be £60 if paid within 21 days or £120 if paid within 28 days. A Penalty Notice can be issued to each parent for each child. Failure to pay the Penalty Notice could result in prosecution through the courts.

Valid reasons for authorised absence include:

Illness and medical/dental appointments (see our attendance policy for more detail)

Religious observance – where the day is exclusively set apart for religious observance by the religious body to which the pupil’s parents belong.  If necessary, the school will seek advice from the parents’ religious body to confirm whether the day is set apart.

Traveller pupils travelling for occupational purposes – this covers Roma, English and Welsh gypsies, Irish and Scottish travellers, showmen (fairground people) and circus people, bargees (occupational boat dwellers) and new travellers. Absence may be authorised only when a traveller family is known to be travelling for occupational purposes and has agreed this with the school, but it is not known whether the pupil is attending educational provision.

Service personnel returning from a tour of duty abroad where it is evidenced the individual will not be in receipt of any leave in the near future that coincides with school holidays.

Where an absence from school is recommended by a health professional as part of a parent or child’s rehabilitation from a medical or emotional issue.

The death or terminal illness or a person in the family.

To attend a wedding or funeral of a person in the family.

Where there are exceptional and unforeseen circumstances that fall outside of the above, the Headteacher agrees to look at each case individually.

 

Are you Ready? Some Tips to help your child have a good day

· Help them get their school bag packed the night before
· Make sure their uniform is ready, especially after the holidays or weekend
· Set a limit on screen time before bed, e.g. come off technology an hour before bedtime.
· Get them to bed at a reasonable time so they have a good nights sleep
· Set the alarm clock early enough to allow plenty of time to get ready properly
· Make sure they have some breakfast
· Set off for the bus or start walking early enough so that they arrive at school on time.
· Talk to your child about what they did in school today.