Attendance

Regular school attendance is very important in primary school. Being in class every day helps children build strong learning habits, develop friendships, and feel confident and secure in their routines. Even missing a small amount of time can make it harder for children to keep up with learning and feel settled.

That said, we fully understand that children do sometimes become unwell, and their health and wellbeing must always come first. If your child is genuinely ill, keeping them at home to rest and recover is absolutely the right thing to do.

We kindly ask that, wherever possible, appointments and absences are kept to a minimum during school time, and that children attend school regularly when they are well enough to do so. If you are experiencing any difficulties that are affecting your child’s attendance, please don’t hesitate to contact us — we are always here to listen and support.

Individual attendance figures will be discussed with parents if they are a cause for concern.  We work closely with our Educational Welfare Officer and will investigate reasons for the absence and may ask for medical evidence.

The classroom doors are open from 8:55am - 9:00am and any child who arrives once their classroom door has been closed should register at the school office before coming into school. Further information can be found in our Attendance Policy.

Punctuality

Punctuality is also very important, so that children can be in their class and settled ready for the start of the school day.  Even just a few minutes late each day soon adds up, with just 10 minutes a day resulting in over 6 missed school days per year. 

Each term we are required to submit attendance data for our school to the Lead Attendance Officer at Suffolk County Council. Any child whose attendance is considered too low or who has been persistently absent over a number of weeks is identified and will be monitored by the Local Authority Attendance team.

Absence Procedures