Our School Times

 

Reception - Year 6:

 

• Gates open at 8.35am
• School day starts at 8.45am - learning begins straight away so it is vital that all pupils arrive on time to begin their day!
• Lesson One - 8.50am
• Break time - 10.05am
• Lesson Two - 10.20am
• Lesson Three - 11.20am
• Lunchtime - 12pm
• Reading/Spelling - 1pm
• Lesson Four - 1.20pm
• Lesson Five - 2.10pm
• Whole Class Reading - 3pm
• School Closes - 3.15pm

 

6.5 hours per day = 32.5 hours per week 

 

Nursery 

• Sessions run 9am-12pm

(Afternoon sessions are available for parents who claim 30 hour funding - 12-3pm)

 

Ducklings:

• Morning session 9am-12pm
• Afternoon session 12-3pm

 

Please ensure that your child is punctual as late arrivals often disrupt learning

 

Please make sure your child is collected from school on time.

 

Young children can become very distressed and feel insecure if they are left at school when all the other children have gone home.

 

Why is good attendance important?

 

Good attendance at school is vital for pupils to achieve their full education potential.

 

Pupils with good attendance records benefit in the following ways:

 

• Continuity of learning which makes progress and retention easier
• Enhanced performance in assessments
• Continuity of relationships and friendships
• Good habits are formed for later life 

 

What constitutes good attendance?

 

An attendance percentage needs to be 95% before it can be considered to be good

 

Consider the following examples;

 

• An attendance record of 90% might seem good but it is equal to one day missed per fortnight. If this continues from Years 2 to 6, a total of 6 months education will be lost.
• An attendance record of 80% might seem acceptable but is equal to one day missed per week. If this continues from Years to 6, a total one one year's education will be lost.

 

 

 

 

The Law

Your child is a registered pupil at Norton Canes Primary Academy, therefore must attend regularly and punctually.

 

The Government expect pupils of Primary school level to have above 95% attendance. The school has a legal duty to report poor attendance to the Local Education Authority. If your child in not attending school regularly, the school will  contact you to make an appointment to discuss this and look at ways of improvement. Should poor attendance continue, the school will make a referral to the Welfare Team who may visit or write to you.

 

The Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 amended section 444 of the Education Act 1996 to allow parents to be issued with a penalty where they have failed to ensure their child of compulsory school age (5-16) and school registered regular attendance.

A penalty notice is issued for £60, If this is not paid within 21 days from the date of issue it rises to £120. If, after 28 days of the date of issue the £120 is not paid, we will prosecute parents under section 444 (1) of the Education Act 1996. This will lead to a hearing in the Magistrates Court and may result in a fine of up to £1,000.

 

As a parent, you are committing an offence if you fail to make sure that your child attends school regularly, even if they are missing school without your knowledge. Under section 7 of the Education Act 1996, you as the parent are responsible for ensuring that your child receives full time education.

 

 

Being at school

Being at school is a very important part of any young person's life.

It enables them to learn, to make friends, to gain important knowledge and to develop a variety of skills which will prepare them for adult life. School and parents are important in making this a success. As parents or carers, it is your responsibility to make sure that your child makes the most of this opportunity by attending regularly.

 

 

Taking the register

Schools have a legal duty to record the attendance of every pupil or record them absent or late.

The register is called at the beginning of both the morning and afternoon sessions. If a pupil has to leave school for any reason during the day, school should be informed of this prior to the day. An appointment letter or slip should have been shown to the office or your child's class teacher before the child is collected.

 

When the whole class arrive on time and the registration process can begin, then the day starts off so much more efficiently. Pupils arriving late miss out on an important part of the day. Any pupil arriving late should report to the school office with accompanying adult with an explanation for the late arrival.

 

• 5 minutes late each day equals 3 lost days each year
• 10 minutes late each day equals 6.5 days lost each year
• 15 minutes late each day equals 10 lost days each year
• 20 minutes late each day equals 13 days lost each year
• 30 minutes late each day equals 19 days lost each year

 

Registers are taken twice a day, once at the start of the school day at 8:50 a.m., and once during the afternoon session at 1.00p.m. The registers will remain open for 40 minutes. Pupils arriving before the end of the Registration period will be coded L (Late before registers close) which is a present mark. The number of minutes late will be recorded in the register. Pupils arriving after the registers have closed will be coded U (Late after registers close) which counts as an unauthorised absence.

 

 

 

 

 

Holidays

 

Family holidays should not be taken during term time. Any requests made will not be authorised unless there are exceptional circumstances. 

Please obtain a request for leave of absence form from the school office. The request will be considered and a letter of response will be issued back to you.

Should the school not decide to grant leave of absence and the child does not come in to school, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised. This period of absence may be subject to a penalty notice fine of £60 per parent*, per child. This fine will increase to £120 if not paid within 21 days. Failure to pay the £120 fine within the period of 22 to 28 days may lead to court proceedings.

* generally the DFE states that parents include all those with day to day responsibility for a child.

 

What to do if your child is absent from school

 

Illness

 

• You must telephone school before 9am to inform us of the reason for your child's absence. There is a voicemail service available if no one answers the phone. Our telephone number is 01543 279402.

Medical appointments

 

• Parents are expected to make arrangements for medical, optical and dental appointments outside of school hours, unless it is an emergency. We appreciate that hospital appointments are difficult to change once allocated and this would be an exception.
• Proof of all medical appointments are required. Please ensure an appointment card, letter or text is shown to a member of the office team or to your child's class teacher.

 

 

Please see our Attendance policy for more information