Golftyn Primary School
ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY POLICY – May 2024
Golftyn C.P. School seeks to ensure that all its pupils receive a full-time education which maximises opportunities for each pupil to realise their 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 has established an effective system of incentives and rewards which acknowledges the efforts of pupils to improve their attendance and timekeeping and will challenge the behaviour of those pupils and parents who give low priority to attendance and punctuality.
To meet these objectives Golftyn C.P. School will establish an effective and efficient system of communication with pupils, parents and appropriate agencies to provide mutual information, advice and support.
WHOLE SCHOOL POLICY FOR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE – AIMS
- To improve the overall percentage of pupils at school.
- To make attendance and punctuality a priority for all those associated with the school including pupils, parents, teachers and governors, the Headteacher and IWO are responsible for ensuring the consistent implementation of standardised attendance codes and the authorisation of pupils absences.
- To develop a framework which defines agreed roles and responsibilities and promotes consistency in carrying out designated tasks.
- To provide support, advice and guidance to parents and pupils.
- To register pupils am/pm using electronic software SIMS.
- To develop a systematic approach to gathering and analysing attendance related dates. The secretary is responsible for ensuring attendance data recorded by the electronic software package is correct and the systems are included within their attendance policy.
- To further develop positive and consistent communication between home and school.
- To implement a system of rewards and sanctions.
- To promote effective partnerships with the Inclusion Welfare Service and with other services and agencies.
- To recognise the needs of the individual pupil when planning reintegration following significant periods of absence.
To Improve the Overall Percentage Attendance of Pupils at School
- Apply the Whole School Attendance Policy consistently.
- Establish and maintain a high profile for attendance and punctuality.
- Relate attendance issues directly to the school’s values, ethos and curriculum.
- Monitor progress in attendance measurable outcomes.
To Make Attendance and Punctuality a Priority for All Those Associated with the School Including Pupils, Parents, Teachers and Governors.
- Use staff/school handbook, prospectus, WAG guidance.
- Produce reports for governors and parents notified termly about their child’s, class and school average attendance, this will be RAG coded.
- Highlight importance of attendance at Induction Evenings and workshop evenings.
- Discuss attendance issues with Inclusion Welfare Officer/Pastoral staff evaluation meetings and/or in relevant staff meetings (e.g. attendance review meetings).
- Celebrate attendance awards in whole school assemblies.
To Develop a Framework Which Defines Agreed Roles and Responsibilities and Promotes Consistency in Carrying out Designated Tasks.
- Maintain unambiguous procedures for statutory registration.
- Encourage parents to inform school of absences on the first day.
- Ensure clearly defined late registration procedures. Register closes at the end of play time which is 11am.
- Respond swiftly to lateness (in respect of both pupils and parents).
- The Headteacher/Parental Engagement Officer meets regularly with the Inclusion Welfare Officer to review attendance and punctuality.
- Have clear procedures prior to referral to the Inclusion Welfare Officer.
- Review attendance regularly.
- Be familiar with the Inclusion Welfare Officer’s referral and recording system.
- Make a phone call home to all children who have an attendance percentage less than 80% on the second day that the child is absent.
To Provide Support, Advice and Guidance to Parents and Pupils
We will look to take advantage of every opportunity to highlight the importance of regular attendance at school. These opportunities may arise in:
- PSE
- Assemblies
- Meetings (Attendance Strategy Meetings)
- Staff talking to pupils/parents
- Public support offered by school – including home visits by IWO.
- Improved communication with parents e.g. when parents ring in.
- Highlight pupils whose attendance/punctuality is causing concern prior to visit by IWO.
- Provide accurate and up-to-date contact information for parents.
- Involve parents from the earliest stage having identified problems with attendance.
To Further Develop Positive and Consistent Communication between Home and School
- Promote first absence contact. (Phone call).
- Make full use of computer generated letters (see Appendices).
- Promote expectation of absence letters/phone calls from parents.
- Encourage all parents into school to discuss any problems that may be leading to low attendance/lateness.
To Implement a System of Rewards
- A class with a 100% attendance record for a whole week will get 10 minutes extra play the following week, supervised by the Headteacher or an assistant headteacher.
- Pupils with a 100% attendance record for the whole term will be presented with a “100% Attendance” certificate in the whole school assembly.
- Pupils with a 100% attendance record for the whole year will receive a 100% Attendance Certificate at the end of the school year.
- The IWO has instigated a monitoring system for attendance and punctuality. She will come into school over a period to record and monitor attendance and punctuality. This is carried out with each class over the school year.
- Attendance figures are RAG ordered at the end of each term and sent home to parents. Highlighting school average, class average and child’s actual attendance.
- Attendance figures are reported at every governors meeting and are included in the Headteacher’s Report to governors termly.
To Recognise the Needs of the Individual Pupil When Planning Reintegration Following Significant Periods of Absence
- Be sensitive to the individual needs and circumstances of returning pupils.
- Involve and inform all staff of the reintegration process.
- Involve parents as much as possible.
- Agree timescale for review of reintegration plan.
- Include Inclusion Welfare Officers, parents and pupils in the reintegration plan and reviews of the plan.
REGISTRATION (INCLUDING LATENESS)
- Registers are taken at the beginning of the morning session and afternoon session.
- Teachers will register the children directly onto the SIMS application in their classroom.
- Lateness is defined as an arrival after 00am.
- Pupils will be recorded as late in the Pupil Record Book in the school office and be given Code L code on Register.
- Pupils arriving after m. are recorded as U
- The school takes the opportunity to promote the Curriculum Cymraeg during registration.
AUTHORISED/UNAUTHORISED ABSENCE
IT IS FOR THE SCHOOL TO DECIDE WHETHER AN ABSENCE IS DEFINED AS AUTHORISED / OR UNAUTHORISED O.
- Any unexplained absence will be followed up by the Parental Engagement Officer.
- Any further unexplained absences should be followed up with a letter home to parents AFTER TWO WEEKS (see example in appendices).
ABSENCE WILL BE AUTHORISED FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:-
Sickness
Medical (Dental) appointments
Days of religious observance
Exceptional family circumstances
Reasons agreed with the Headteacher
HOLIDAYS
- Holidays during term time guidance and a ‘Holiday in Term Time Request Form’ is available on the school website for Parents/carers to complete.
https://golftyncp.wales/12332-2/
- Holidays will be authorised up to a maximum of 10 days at the Head Teachers discretion.
UNAUTHORISED ABSENCES
Absence from school will not be authorised for:-
Shopping
Haircuts
No uniform
Looking after younger siblings
Birthdays
Minding the house
If in doubt please see the Headteacher who will also seek further guidance, if necessary from the IWO.
APPENDICES
Appendix 1 Absence codes
Attendance Codes |
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| Code | School Meaning | Statistical Meaning | Physical Meaning |
| / | Present (AM) | Present | In for whole session |
| \ | Present (PM) | Present | In for whole session |
| B | Educated off site – changed | Authorised Absence | Out for whole session |
| C | Other authorised circumstances | Authorised Absence | Out for whole session |
| D | Dual Reg (attending other estab) | AEA | Out for whole session |
| E | Excluded (no alternative provision) | Authorised Absence | Out for whole session |
| F | Extended family holiday (agreed) | Authorised Absence | Out for whole session |
| G | Family holiday (not agreed) | Unauthorised Absence | Out for whole session |
| H | Annual family holiday (agreed) | Authorised Absence | Out for whole session |
| I | Illness | Authorised Absence | Out for whole session |
| J | Interview | AEA | Out for whole session |
| L | Late (before reg closed) | Present | Late for session |
| M | Medical/Dental appointment | Authorised Absence | Out for whole session |
| N | No reason yet provided for absence | Unauthorised Absence | Out for whole session |
| O | Unauth Abs(not covered by other code) | Unauthorised Absence | Out for whole session |
| P | Approved sporting activity | AEA | Out for whole session |
| R | Religious observance | Authorised Absence | Out for whole session |
| S | Study leave | Authorised Absence | Out for whole session |
| T | Traveller absence | Authorised Absence | Out for whole session |
| U | Late (after register closed) | Unauthorised Absence | Late for session |
| V | Educational visit | AEA | Out for whole session |
| W | Work Experience | AEA | Out for whole session |
| X | Non-compulsory school age absence | Attendance not required | Out for whole session |
| Y | Partial or enforced closure | Attendance not required | Out for whole session |
| Z | Pupil not yet on roll | Attendance not required | Out for whole session |
| ! | No Attendance Required | Attendance not required | Out for whole session |
| # | School closed to all pupils | Attendance not required | Out for whole session |
| – | All should attend / No mark recorded | No mark | No mark for session |
Appendix 2 Letters
Attendance Letter 1 Monitoring
Attendance Letter 2 Medical Evidence
Attendance Letter 3 Invite to Meeting
