Attendance and Absence

Attendance Statement 

At Sompting Village Primary School we want every child to attend school every day. We understand that supporting good attendance is everyone’s business and school staff, parents/carers, outside agencies and pupils must work together to achieve this.

We believe every child should feel that they belong at SVPS and that our school is a calm, safe and happy environment where pupils can be their best to achieve their potential.

Poor attendance may also be an indicator that a child requires additional support. Attendance concerns will be considered alongside the school’s safeguarding responsibilities so that we can ensure the best outcomes for every child at our school.

What is good attendance at Sompting Village Primary school?

At Sompting Village Primary School we want every child to be in school every day. We understand that throughout the year there may be some absences due to illness but we would expect these to be rare.

Why is good attendance important?

Establishing good attendance patterns from an early age can help children later in life. Evidence suggests that children that attend school more regularly achieve better outcomes at the end of the year than those with poor attendance. In addition to missing academic work and learning, children that miss school frequently also miss out on the social aspect of school such as making and sustaining friendships.

If a child’s attendance is below 90% they are classed has having persistent absence.

If a child’s attendance is below 50% they are classed as having severe absence.

What should I do if I am worried about my child’s attendance?

If you are worried about your child’s attendance speak to either your child’s class teacher or Mr Sykens

How does the school monitor children’s attendance?

The school continuously monitors the attendance of every child in the school. Every 4 weeks children that are showing as persistently absent or at risk of becoming persistently absent are discussed between senior management and monitored from that point forward. Actions and next steps may be discussed at this point.

What will happen if my child is persistently absent?

If your child has been shown to have persistent absence (below90%) then initially their attendance will be monitored within school for a short period of time. If the absence cannot be explained due a single period of absence such as 1 week off with chicken pox, then a member of staff will make contact either in person or via a letter informing you that your child’s attendance is a concern.

If after a further period of time the attendance does not improve then a meeting will be arranged and together home and school will create a plan to help improve the child’s attendance. Where attendance is a concern, the school may request appropriate medical evidence to support future absences.

If attendance continues to be a concern and unauthorised absence persists, the school may seek support from the Local Authority and consider formal attendance procedures in line with local and national guidance.

What should I do if my child is absent?

If your child is absent from school please contact the school office by either telephone, email or on your MCAS app, on the first day of absence. The office contact details are 01903 204627 or absence@somptingvillageprimary.co.uk. If your child needs to be absent from school for an exceptional circumstance please contact the office who will provide you with the necessary request form.

Can my child be absent to allow me to take them on holiday?

Unfortunately the school is not able to authorise any holiday absence during term time.

What should I do if my child does not want to come to school?

In some cases children find it tricky to come to school for many reasons. If this is the case please speak to Mr Sykens and together a plan will be made to support your child. Please do not pretend that they are ill if they are not. It is important that we record the days they are absent because they refuse to come in so we can support them in the correct way and make sure they get the help they need.

Services such as Early Help and Enabling Families can both support families at home and as a school we can work in partnership with them and parents/carers to try and resolve the issue for the child.

What happens if my child is late?

Being on time and punctual is incredibly important and a life skill which children need to learn. When a child is late as well as missing important learning they are also missing vital social interaction time with their friends and classmates.

Joining a lesson that has already started can add additional anxiety about what has been missed and this is not a productive way to start a day’s learning. We understand that for children who find it challenging to come into school they may join the lesson late but for these children a plan should be in place to support this.

Registration closes at 8.45am. If a child arrives after the registration has closed then the child is given a late mark. The number of late marks are monitored for each child and if there is persistent lateness then this will be discussed with the parent or carer.