Attendance
Why Attendance Matters
At Pensby Primary School, we believe that good attendance is essential for children to achieve their full potential.
Regular attendance supports children’s learning, wellbeing, friendships and sense of belonging within the school community and children who attend school regularly:
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Make better progress academically
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Develop stronger friendships
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Feel more confident and settled in school
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Build good habits for the future
We expect all pupils to attend school every day and on time, unless they are too unwell to attend.
The school day begins promptly at 8:55am and it is important that pupils arrive on time so they are ready to start learning with their class. Late arrival can disrupt learning and may cause children to miss important parts of the school day.
Reporting Absence
Even a small amount of absence can have a significant impact on learning over time. If your child is unable to attend school due to illness or another unavoidable reason, please contact the school office by 9am on the morning of the first absence by phone call, ParentMail or email. Please include a clear and detailed reason for your child’s absence so that we can record absences accurately and support families appropriately.
If your child is absent for more than one day, please contact us each morning to let us know.
As part of our safeguarding procedures, if parents or carers do not contact the school to explain their child’s absence, we may carry out a Safe and Well check. This may involve contacting you directly, contacting other named contacts that you have shared with us, or visiting the family home.
You can report an absence by:
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Telephoning the school office
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Emailing the school office
Please provide your child’s name, class and the reason for their absence.
If we do not receive a reason for absence, the school will contact you to ensure that your child is safe.
Medical Appointments
Where possible, medical and dental appointments should be arranged outside of school hours. If this is not possible, please inform the school in advance and provide appointment evidence where available.
Holidays During Term Time
The DfE does not allow schools to authorise holidays during term time, except in exceptional circumstances. Parents are therefore strongly encouraged to arrange family holidays during the school holiday periods. Requests for leave during term time must be made in advance to the Headteacher using a Leave of Absence request form.
Supporting Good Attendance
The school works in partnership with families and, where necessary, the Local Authority Attendance Service to promote and improve attendance. We understand that sometimes families may need support and we work closely with families to promote positive attendance and to ensure that every child has the best possible opportunity to succeed.
If you have any concerns or difficulties that may affect your child’s attendance, please contact your child’s class teacher who can signpost you to some support.
