Attendance
Attendance
Year to Date
3rd September 2024 - 16th May 2025 - 93.44%
Weekly Attendance
12th - 16th May 2025
| Reception - 93.04% |
| Year 1 - 95.43% |
| Year 2 - 93.96% |
| Year 3 - 94.87% |
| Year 4 - 96.37% |
| Year 5 - 94.07% |
| Year 6 - 98.17% |
Weekly Lates
12th - 16th May 2025
| Reception - 21 lates |
| Year 1 - 9 lates |
| Year 2 - 25 lates |
| Year 3 - 63 lates |
| Year 4 - 56 lates |
| Year 5 - 55 lates |
| Year 6 - 19 lates |
At William Bellamy Primary school, attendance and punctuality is fundamental in ensuring that your child has the best possible start in life.
Attendance is directly linked to attainment; research clearly shows that good attendance has a very positive impact on children’s learning and progress at school. If a child is not in school regularly then they are not fully accessing the curriculum and learning opportunities available to them.
Did you know…?
A whole year has 365 days. A school year has only 190 days.
This leaves…
another 175 days to spend on family time together, day trips and visits, holidays, birthday treats, dentist and hospital appointments.
Children are required to attend school for 190 days each year. At William Bellamy Primary School, we expect attendance to be 96% and above. |
Why it is important to attend school regularly?
- To give your child the best possible start to the rest of their life.
- To help them keep up with their work and their peers.
- To help them achieve the best possible results.
- To help them develop strong friendships and good social skills.
Attending school regularly is crucial to raising standards in education and ensuring all pupils can fulfil their potential. If your child is not well or if you have a planned and acceptable reason why your child cannot attend school, please inform the school at the earliest opportunity.
Did you know…?
Children of compulsory school age must, by law, receive a full-time education.
Each person, with day-to-day parental responsibility, could be taken to court and fined for each child who is not attending school regularly or who is persistently late.
The Education Act 1996 states that all pupils should attend school regularly and punctually. ‘If a child of compulsory school age, who is a registered pupil at a school fails to attend regularly at the school, his parent is guilty of an offence.’ |
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Arrival at School
Reception and KS1- gates open at 8:40 and close at 8:45
KS2 – gates open at 8:35 and close at 8:40
This allows for a ‘soft opening’ to help reduce congestion on the playground and help the children settle calmly into class for the day.
Lateness – ‘Every Minute Counts’
If you arrive after the gates close, you must enter the school via the late doors on either site.
Late doors close 5 minutes after the closing of the gates.
Reception and KS1 – 8:50
KS2 – 8:45
If you are even later than this, your child must enter the school via the school office and will be registered as late. Parents/guardians are expected to provide acceptable reasons for their lateness. Please note that persistent lateness can be legally counted as unauthorised absence depending on the time of arrival.
The school operates a First Day Response and will telephone families where children have failed to attend school in time for morning registration.
Did you know…?
Arriving late for school on a regular basis can:
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Below shows how regular lateness can add up to a considerable amount of learning being lost which can seriously disadvantage children and disrupt the learning of others. Please help your children to be punctual.
Unplanned absences
Please inform the school before 9.30 am on the morning of the first day of absence.
Phone the absence line in school office as soon as possible on 02082706506 or email the office at office@williambellamy.co.uk or via the ParentMail app.
Keep the school informed EVERY DAY if the absence is to continue.
A written explanation of your child’s absence may be required on return to school. If we do not receive a satisfactory explanation, we will not authorise the absence. This will show up on your child’s end of year report.
Authorised Absence
The school can only authorise any absences in the following circumstances:
- Genuine illness
- Dental/medical appointments
Please try to arrange medical appointments during holiday times or out of school hours.
If you cannot make doctor or dentist appointments outside of school hours, wherever possible the child should come to school before the appointment and return to school afterwards. Please provide an appointment letter or text/email from the doctor/dentist beforehand.
- Close family bereavement
- Recognised religious observance
If you wish to take your child out of school for a religious observance please inform the school.
Unauthorised Absence
What is NOT acceptable?
- Caring for a parent or sibling
- Going shopping
- Day trips
- Birthdays
- Bad weather
- Family holidays (these will not be authorised)
This is not a conclusive list.
Family Holidays
Family holidays must not be taken during the school term!
If you take your child on holiday without authorisation, the Local Education Authority has the power to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice of £60 per parent per child, rising to £120 if not paid within 28 days. Failure to pay can result in a criminal record and a fine of up to £1000.
Please also read the school’s Attendance Policy, which has more information on procedures.
Exceptional Circumstances
If your child needs to be absent from school for any exceptional circumstances, please complete a Special Leave of Absence Request form (available below and from the office). This will be reviewed by the Attendance Lead/Headteacher.
This should be done at the earliest possible opportunity and with at least 2 weeks’ notice. Please note that the Attendance Lead/Headteacher will take into consideration your child’s age, the time of year and the overall attendance pattern of your child and has the right to refuse your request for a leave of absence.