All children are expected to attend school regularly. The expectation of schools, the Local Authority and the Department for Education is that children attend school 100% unless they are too ill to be in school.

Reports sent home over the year show the attendance your child has over the academic year.  These are listed in a categories.  If your child has attendance of below 90%, they are listed as ‘Persistently Absent’.

• Excellent attendance: 98-100%
• Good attendance: 95-97.9%
• Requires attention: 90-94.9%
• Persistently absent: 0-89.9%

The average pupil in our school has attendance of 97% approximately.  Over the year, an average pupil will take no more than 6 days off school in total for all reasons.  About 10% of our pupils do not take any days off school during the school year – well done you!

Good attenders have parents and carers who are good at ‘chivvying’ children along.  This means that even if their child is feeling under the weather, they are insistent that children attend school (‘You’ll be fine when you get there.’).  Parents will write a note in a planner or email the School Office so we can keep a particular eye on their child.  The child may have taken some medication before coming into school and may need some at lunchtime.  Parents who send in their ‘under the weather’ child are showing consideration to our busy staff who have to work harder when children are absent to prepare work to catch them up on their return.

We always prefer to make a call to you to collect your child rather than having an absent child unless they have sickness or diarrhoea.  If we call you about your child part way through the day, we will most likely as you about administering medication rather than taking your child home.

Excellent attendance is one of the biggest factors in a child's success at school. Children who attend regularly make better progress and achieve higher outcomes than those who miss school.

Every day matters. Whether an absence is for a holiday, a birthday or another avoidable reason, missed learning can quickly add up and affect future achievement. It can also create the expectation that attendance is optional, making it more difficult to maintain good attendance in secondary school.

By establishing excellent attendance from the first days of Reception, we help children develop positive habits that support their education, and future opportunities and success.

If your child is too ill to attend school, please contact the School Office as soon as possible by calling 01458 250673 or emailing office@HEPS.ppat365.org.

The school will authorise absences only where appropriate. If we do not receive a reason for your child's absence, we will contact all available emergency contacts until we know they are safe. Please answer our calls whenever possible, as this helps us ensure your child's wellbeing. In some circumstances, Miss Chadbourne may make a home visit.

• Significant illness such as sickness or diarrhoea
• Unavoidable medical appointments
• Short term family crisis

• Parents wanting the company of their children at home (while working from home, taking a day off from work/not working, when parents are going through a separation or suffering from poor physical or mental health)
• A minor illness such as a cold or time off after illness for recovery
• Non-urgent medical or dental appointments
• Birthdays
• Holidays in term time
• Looking after siblings or the home

Government regulations have made it clear that Headteachers can only grant leave of absence in exceptional circumstances. Any request must be made in advance and in writing to the Headteacher. Circumstances where leave may be considered are;

• Forces staff returning from lengthy active service abroad.
• If a close family member has a terminal illness and it may be a last chance to be together.
• Police, fire service, ambulance staff being told when they can or cannot take leave.  This may be authorised if proof is supplied.