At Cranham Primary School, we value the importance of regular attendance and good punctuality. High attendance is essential to ensure uninterrupted progress and to enable children to fully develop their learning potential. It also allows children to grow in confidence and provides them with the skills to form and maintain friendships.

Attendance at school is a legal requirement and we aim to give all stakeholders a clear and consistent message regarding their responsibilities on a day-to-day basis.

Please support us by doing the following......

• Try to telephone the school before 8.30am each day of your child’s absence. Office staff are available from 7.30am.

• Please try to make medical appointments out of school hours. If this is not possible, pupils should attend school before or after the appointment.

• If you are not sure whether your child is well enough to attend school, send them in anyway as they often perk up on arrival.

• Have a backup plan for if your child misses transport, call on a family member, neighbour or friend.

• If you and your child are experiencing difficulties with school attendance then talk to us as a first step so we can help! We are here to support and work with you.

What we will do......

• Check your child’s attendance every day.
• Phone home to discuss your child’s attendance with you.
• Send home a letter of concern if attendance falls below 90%
• Invite you into school for attendance meetings with the Senior leadership/nurture team if we are concerned.
• If we cannot establish a reason for absence, then we may make a welfare home visit.

Illness and Medical appointments

Medical appointments are to be made outside of the school day. If this is not possible then pupils should attend school before or after the appointment.

The NHS gives the following advice on how long children should stay off school if they are unwell.

Vomiting or diarrhoea – 48 hours after the symptoms have stopped

Chicken pox – when all the spots have crusted over – usually 5 days after they first appeared.

Impetigo – 48 hours after starting prescription medication, or when the patches have crusted over if they aren’t taking medication.

Scarlet fever – 24 hours after starting antibiotics

Hand, foot and mouth – As long as your child is feeling unwell bu there is no need to wait until the blisters heal before they return.

Measles – at least 4 days after the rash develops.

Scabies – 24 hours after the first treatment.

Shingles – When the last blister has scabbed, usually 10-14 days after they first appear.

There is no need for your child to stay off school with the following conditions, unless they’re feeling unwell.

Slapped cheek

Headlice, once treated

Coughs and colds

Threadworms

Ringworm

Verrucas

Lateness

It is very important that children are on time, every day for school.  Learning starts at 8:30am for children in years 5 & 6. The bell rings for the rest of the school at 8.40am so that children are ready to start their learning at 8.45am.

Please ensure your children, for their benefit, are in school and on time every day.

Persistently absent

We will keep you updated throughout the year regarding your child’s attendance. If attendance falls below 90%, we will send you a letter and offer you support to help to improve this. Your child’s attendance will be closely monitored thereafter. If attendance continues to fall, we will invite you in for a meeting and set up an action plan to support better attendance. We may also carry out a home visit as part of our welfare check.