Attendance

Garrett Hall Primary School seeks to ensure that all its pupils receive a full-time education which maximises opportunities for each pupil to realise his/her true potential.  The school will strive to provide a welcoming, caring environment, whereby each member of the school community feels wanted and secure. All school staff will work with pupils and their families to ensure each pupil attends school regularly and punctually.

The school will establish an effective system of incentives and rewards that acknowledges the efforts of pupils to improve their attendance and timekeeping.

To meet these objectives Garrett Hall will establish an effective and efficient system of communication with pupils, parents and appropriate agencies to provide mutual information, advice and support. 

Punctuality

The school day starts promptly at 8.45 a.m. for children in Reception, 8.50 a.m. for Year 1 and 2 and 9.00 a.m. for children in Nursery. Our Year 3 and 4 children start school at 8.55 a.m. and our Year 5 and 6 children start at 8.45 a.m. If a child arrives at school after these times without prior arrangements having been agreed, he/she will be deemed as late.  Registers close half an hour after a child's allocated start time, and arrival at school after this time, without prior approval or extenuating circumstances, will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.

Pupils arriving at school after their allocated start time must enter through the main gates and report to the school office to be signed in by an adult. Pupils leaving school for any reason must report to the office before they go so that we can ensure that they are appropriately chaperoned and signed out.  Registers are also taken when the children return to classes after lunch. Unexplained absences will be investigated by the Education Welfare Officer who deals with attendance.

We are very proud that our school pupil attendance for the last few years was around 96%. It is no surprise that this high attendance figure corresponds to the excellent attainment and progress of our pupils make.

How can parents/guardians help with attendance?

• Keep requests for their child to be absent to a minimum
• Offer a reason, or medical proof, for any period of absence, preferably before the absence or on the first day of absence
• Ensure that their child arrives at school on time, a reason should be offered for any lateness
• Work closely with the school and Education Welfare Officer to resolve any problems that may impede a child’s attendance
• Take family holidays during school holiday periods and be aware that requests for holidays during term time will be refused
• Be aware of curriculum requirements and be especially vigilant with regards to attendance during important academic times such as SATS

 To view our Attendance and Punctuality Policy, please click here

To view EPN - Penalty Notices for Unauthorised Absences, please click here