Attendance & Punctuality

Attendance and Punctuality

The DFE is very clear that schools may not authorise holidays for children during term time including time to visit family.  It is important that children are here everyday, regular absence and lateness adds up to a significant amount of lost learning time.  Here at Aldbury we are passionate and committed to ensuring your child or children achieve their full potential, please help us to do so.

Start of the day

The gates to the school will open so that children can be on the playground at 8:45, at 8.50 the bell will be rung so that all children are in classes by 8:55. Once the school doors are closed children will need to enter via the school office where they will be given a late mark. Please ensure that your children are punctual in order to avoid this—thank you.

Being on time helps your child be ready for the day ahead. Even being a few minutes late can have a significant impact, they have missed the opportunity to chat and play with their friends before school starts and are also likely to feel unsettled and embarrassed as they come into the classroom.

Hints and tips.
 

• Get your child into the habit of doing their homework in the evening instead of at the breakfast table on the morning that it is due in.
• Make sure that your child has a good bedtime routine so they get plenty of sleep and don’t struggle to get out of bed in the morning.
• Invest in a reliable alarm clock and get your child to set it as part of their bedtime routine.
• Allow plenty of time for your journey. Set off 10 minutes earlier than you have been so that your child can start the school day punctually and calmly.
• If you are unable to bring your child into school, have a back-up plan to get them here: Ask family, friends or neighbours who are taking their own children anyway.
• Bring your child to our Breakfast Club – it is open from 8.00am and will give your child a great start to the day. Please contact the school office for details.

If you have any concerns about your child’s attendance or are finding it difficult to get your child into school on time, please speak to the class teacher,  Headteacher  so we can support you.

Absence

Please telephone or email the school on each day of your child’s absence with a reason for the absence and we ask that where possible, dental and medical appointments are made out of school hours.

Children cannot learn if they are not at school.

Days off school add up to lost learning - every school day matters.