Attendance
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North Primary School has high expectations for every pupil from the moment they join our school. High attendance is necessary to ensure that your child benefits fully from the learning opportunities on offer and to ensure they leave our school having developed positive lifelong habits and as well-rounded individuals.
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Medical Appointments
Appointments, where possible, should be made outside of school hours or in the holiday period. This includes routine dental appointment. If this is unavoidable, your child should still attend school before or after the appointment where possible. Any session missed that was deemed reasonable to attend will be marked as unauthorised leave.
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Absence Requests
Absence request will only be considered for exceptional circumstances, and these are dealt with on an individual basis. Leave will not normally be considered for students whose attendance is below 95%. An absence request for a religious observance must be a day that has exclusively been set apart for religious observance by the religious body to which the child belongs. Retrospective requests for absences will not be authorised.
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​Term time Leave
Requests for absence should be made by parents in line with our Attendance Policy. This will be in written form with the date of the proposed absence and as much detail as possible about the reason for the absence. As is currently the case, Miss Reed, may still only authorise absence that is an unavoidable and exceptional circumstance and will require evidence of the reason for absence. If a pupil takes unauthorised term time leave for 10 consecutive sessions or more (generally 5 days) they will be subject to a penalty notice.
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Under the revised national rules (DfE, 2024), all schools are required to consider afine when a child has missed 10 or more sessions (5 days) for unauthorisedreasons. (each day has two sessions: AM/PM), within a 10-week rolling period.
From August 2024, the fine for school absences across the country will be £80 if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days.
In the case of repeated fines, if a parent receives a second fine for the same childwithin any three-year period, this will be charged at the higher rate of £160. For further information about fines, please view the DfE Link below.
Fines for parents for taking children out of school: What you need to know –The Education Hub
Working_together_to_improve_school_attendance_-_August_2024.pdf
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What to do if your child cannot attend school
Absence must be reported on a daily basis. You must contact the school (by 8.30am) on the first day of absence. This can be done by emailing attendance @northprimary.co.uk or by calling 020 8571 7749 (option 1) specifying your child’s name, class and the reason for the absence. If they are ill, please give a clear explanation of their condition. For a prolonged absence due to illness, medical evidence will be requested. This can be in the form of a prescription, medical paperwork or an appointment card/letter.
Punctuality/Lateness
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The School Day starts at 8.40am and ends at 3.20pm. All children must be in school by 8.50am but the gates opne at 8.40 and children have activities from this time so getting your child to school early benefits their learning and goves them the right start to the day.
Any children arriving after 8.50am must enter via the school main office and will be marked as late.
Good punctuality is essential for children to achieve their full potential. Being punctual is a life skill and shows respect for others. It is also vital to form good habits for later life. We would ask parents to support us in maintaining punctuality by:
* Ensuring that their children get up in plenty of time to be ready and prepared for school
* Ensuring their child has organised their bag and equipment the night before so that this does not delay departure in the morning
* Discussing any issues of lateness with staff to ensure this does not become a habit
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For more information, please see below our School Attendance Policy:
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