Attendance

All parents/carers have a legal responsibility to ensure their child attends school every day and arrives on time.  Regular and punctual attendance is essential if children are to gain the greatest benefit from their education. Valuable learning time is lost when children are absent or late.

If your child is not attending school you MUST CALL THE OFFICE to inform the school that your child will not be attending school and the reason why.

020 8697 2762

Click on the link to read our parents and carers attendance leaflet.        Attendance Leaflet                                                                                                                               

LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM ATTENDANCE GUIDANCE

Above 98%: Less than 4 days absence a year

Excellent attendance!  Children will almost certainly reach the best potential.

95%: 10 days absence a year

These children are likely to achieve good standards, and form a habit of  attending school regularly.

90%: 19 days absent a year 

Children in this group are identified as “Persistent Absentees”, and it will be almost impossible for them to keep up with work.  Parents of children in this group face the possibility of legal action being taken by the Local Authority.

If your child’s attendance falls to 90% over the year this means that on average your child has been absent once a fortnight.

We hope that the following information will be helpful in clarifying the attendance and lateness procedures at Torridon  Primary School.

REQUESTS FOR LEAVE OF ABSENCE

In very exceptional  circumstances the headteacher may authorise a limited absence from school.  Parents or carers who wish to request a leave of absence for their child must make an appointment to discuss this with the headteacher and complete a form detailing reasons for the request.

The headteacher will make a decision based on the nature of the request , previous and current attendance rates, as well as the likely impact on the child’s progress.  If a child has lower than expected attendance then the request will not be granted.

If the absence is not agreed it will  be recorded as unauthorised.  Requests for exceptional leave will not be given retrospectively.

You may be required to supply proof for the reasons you are requesting the leave.

The school WILL NOT  authorise absence for:

  • Birthdays, shopping and day trips
  • Visiting family members/ friends
  • Family holidays
  • Absences which have never been fully explained

If parents or carers apply for exceptional leave of absence and the request is refused, but the child is still taken out of school, the Local Authority may serve a Fixed Penalty Notice which may result in a fine.

MONITORING ATTENDANCE 

The school is required to monitor, investigate and improve any issues of poor attendance.  If we have concerns we will contact you to discuss these.  Likewise, if you are having any difficulties with attendance or punctuality, please let us know and we will try to help.

ATTENDANCE SERVICE

The school has an allocated Attendance & Welfare Officer (AO) from Lewisham Local Authority who visits on a regular  basis to monitor  attendance data, discuss any concerns and provide support and intervention where necessary.  The school is required to refer children who are persistently absent i.e. whose attendance is below 90%.

IMPORTANCE OF BEING PUNCTUAL TO SCHOOL                

If your child is just 5 MINUTES LATE each day this means that they could lose the following amount of schooling:

  • 25 minutes per week
  • 2.5 hours per half term
  • 16 hours per year

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE / LATENESS PROCEDURES

Absence   

Parents and carers should inform the school  by calling the school on the first day of a child’s absence, giving the reason for absence and if possible, the likely date of return.  If we have no reason for a child’s absence we will contact you via phone to seek the reason.  If we are unable to make contact with you, two members of staff will make a home visit.  All absences will be treated as unauthorised unless a satisfactory explanation is received.

Lateness

Parents and carers should ensure their child is in the school playground before 8.55am.  Children arriving after 9.00am should be brought to the school office to sign in.