Attendance
Our school is committed to providing a full, happy and successful educational experience for all pupils. We believe that if pupils are to benefit from the education we offer and to have a successful school career, good attendance is crucial. As a school, we do all that we can to ensure maximum attendance for all pupils. Any problems that prevent full attendance are identified and addressed as speedily as possible.
We give a high priority to conveying to parents/carers and pupils the importance of regular and punctual attendance. We recognise that parents/carers have a vital role to play and have established strong home-school links and communication systems that can be utilised whenever there is concern about attendance. If there are problems which affect a pupil’s attendance we will investigate, identify and strive in partnership with parents/carers and pupils to resolve those problems as quickly and efficiently as possible, aimed at returning the pupil to full attendance.
As a school we aim to:
- Encourage full attendance and punctuality
- Record and monitor attendance and absenteeism and apply appropriate strategies
- Acknowledge and reward a successful record of attendance
- Ensure a consistent approach throughout the schools
Key Times at Wynstream Primary School
- The school opens at 08:30 for registration at 8.40 a.m.
- Children arriving after 08:40 when the gate has closed, should come via the office where they will get their mark in the register to show the child is ‘LATE.’
- Children arriving after 09:00 are registered as ‘LATE AFTER REGISTRATION,’ this is an unauthorised absence.
- Afternoon registration is as follows:
- EYFS and Key Stage 1 registration opens at 12:50 and closes at 13:00
- Years 2, 3 and 4 registration opens at 12:55 and closes at 13.05
- Years 5 and 6 registration opens at 13:15 and closes at 13:25
Please see the letter that went home regarding Holidays and Avoidable Absences in Term Time
Attendance Regulations September 2013
There were changes to the law which govern attendance in schools and holidays during term time. Amendments were made to the 2006 regulations in the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013. These amendments came into force on the 1st September 2013.
Term Time Holidays:
“The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 used to allow headteachers to grant leave of absence for the purpose of a family holiday during term time for ‘special circumstances’ of up to ten days leave per school year. Headteachers were also able to grant extended leave of more than 10 days in ‘exceptional circumstances’.”
Amendments to the 2006 regulations removed reference to the family holiday and extended leave as well as the statutory threshold of 10 school days. The amendments make it clear that headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are ‘exceptional circumstances’. Headteachers should determine the number of school days a child can be away from school if the leave is granted.
What this means is that we no longer authorise holidays taken during term time. If there are ‘exceptional circumstances’, each case will be considered on an individual basis. All other non-medical absences will be treated as unauthorised. These legislation changes have been made by the Department of Education in order to improve attendance and emphasise the importance of ensuring that no valuable school time is lost. School is absolutely essential for pupils’ future life chances.
Please work with us to ensure we make the most of every minute of your child’s valuable time in school by getting them here everyday, on time and ready to learn.
In the event of an ‘exceptional circumstance’ where you wish to request absence for your child, please complete an Absence Request form and return to Reception.
Click here for our Attendance Policy.
Exceptional circumstances were further clarified in 2024 Working together to improve attendance:
"Schools are then expected to consider each application individually taking into account the specific facts and circumstances and relevant background context behind the request. If a leave of absence is granted, it is for the school to determine the length of the time the pupil can be away from school.
Generally, the DfE does not consider a need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation to be an exceptional circumstance. Leave of absence should not be granted for a pupil to take part in protest activity during school hours.”
