Our School Day
Upper school
The school day starts at 8.40am, the doors and gates providing access to the school will be closed at this time.
Class registers are completed between 8.50am – 9.00am. Any students arriving to school after 9.00am must report to the School’s Office and will be marked as late. Any students arriving to school after 9.30am (after the registers are closed) will be marked as U – unauthorised morning lateness.
Lower School
The school day starts at 8.55am. The doors and gates providing access to the school will be closed at this time.
Class registers are completed between 8.50am – 9.00am. Children arriving after 9.00am will be late for school and must report to the school office. Any students arriving to school after 9.30am (after the registers are closed) will be marked as U – unauthorised morning lateness.
The registers are monitored daily and identify pupils who are arriving late. Regular late arrival for school will be challenged as not acceptable. Pupils with U codes may be referred to the Local Authority Statutory Team for consideration of Legal Action where the trigger is met.
Late arriving or absent pupils
Please ensure that your child arrives at school on time. If your child does arrive late to school they must be brought to the main office to be registered.
If a child is absent from school parents should contact the relevant school on the first day of absence. Parents are expected to maintain contact with the school throughout the absence.
Parents/Carers must inform school if their child is going to be absent before 9.30am. On the school’s phone system there is an option to leave an answer machine message, message on the school app or email the attendance/office account.
Every half day absence from school has to be classified by the school, (not by the parents) as either ‘authorised ‘or unauthorised’. This is why information about the cause of each absence is always required. An absence is classified as authorised when a child has been away from school for legitimate reasons and the school has received notification from a parent/carer. Only the school can authorise an absence. Parents/Carers do not have this authority. Consequently, not all absences outlined by parents/carers will be classified as authorised. An absence is classified as unauthorised when a child is away from school without good reason, even with the support of a parent/carer.
When a child is absent unexpectedly, the class teacher records the absence on the electronic register. Once the register has been electronically submitted, the register is checked against any absence messages received in the office. If children are absent for registration, and we have not been notified of an absence, parents are sent a text message or telephoned by a designated member of our office staff to request a reason for absence.
Children that are being collected from school during the school day are signed out by a member of staff and by yourselves.
Parents and Carers are strongly discouraged from taking holidays during term time. They can be disruptive to a child’s education. If a request for a term time absence is to be made please complete a Request for Absence form (available from the school office) at the earliest possible opportunity with details explaining the request. Requests are considered by the Headteacher.
Medical appointments
Parents should avoid making routine medical appointments and dental appointments during the school day. In the majority of cases, appointments can be made outside of the school day/during the school holidays. Where appointments have to be taken during the school day, parents should request permission for their child to be absent in advance whenever possible.
- Where appointments have to be taken during the school day, only the time for the appointment and travel to and from will be classed as an authorised absence. Pupils are expected to return to school for the remainder of the day/attend school prior to the appointment.
- Parents are required to provide a copy of the appointment letter or card prior to the day of the appointment.
- The frequency of medical appointments will be monitored, for possible induced or fabricated illness.
Traffic and the school site
The roads around our school have a 20mph speed limit and traffic calming measures in place for the safety of our children and their families.
We encourage children and parents to walk to school. If you do live too far away to walk, why not find a place to park five minutes walk from the school gates and walk the last part of the journey? It is good for your child as it wakes them up; gives you a chance to have a chat with them and alleviates traffic problems around the school. It is even good for the planet!. The beginning and end of the school day is very busy with children and families crossing busy roads. Please do not drive or park inconsiderately or dangerously.
To safeguard our children, we are a no phones site. We thank you for your support with this and not using your mobile phones when dropping and collecting your child on the school premises.
Office Hours
Administrative staff are available during term time:
Monday to Friday – 8:15am and 4:00pm