Skip to content ↓

Beanfield Primary School

Attendance

Attendance

At Beanfield we recognise that attending school daily and on time has a positive impact on learning, progress and therefore the best life chances for our children’s success. We must therefore ensure that attendance and punctuality are the highest they possibly can be in order to prepare our children for their future adult life.

Here at Beanfield Primary School, we strive for every child to achieve 96% attendance or above. 

It is the responsibility of everyone in our school community - parents, staff, governors and children - to ensure that they achieve this. Therefore we constantly monitor and review the attendance and punctuality of all of our children. 

We promote and encourage excellent attendance and punctuality by working collaboratively with parents and carers and acting early to address patterns of absence. The Wellbeing Team will invite parents and carers to attendance surgeries should they be concerned about a child’s attendance. They can offer support and guidance and if required, support through an Early Help Assessment. 

There is clear evidence that any absence from school can and will have an impact on a child's attainment. At Beanfield we have robust Attendance and Punctuality Strategies in place (attached documents below) to ensure that your child’s attendance and punctuality are the best they possibly can be.

Celebrating Attendance

Celebrating attendance  

Attendance Bingo: We will promote good attendance to individuals with a small token prize when their Bingo Card is full. 

Attendance Postcards: Postcards are sent to children throughout the year to recognise improvements made in attendance and also to congratulate excellent attendance.  

Attendance Reward Breakfast: Held on a termly basis, the aim of this incentive is to celebrate and acknowledge the efforts of those children who have been absent due to circumstances beyond their control (such as medical appointments/hospital operation) but still strive to be at school and on time on every other occasion. This is also for children whose attendance/punctuality has improved significantly.   

Absence

The process of education is life long, and we build on what we already know. Therefore, if children are absent without an authorised reason they are affecting their future. 

Each year there are 190 school days which leaves 175 days for all other events including birthday treats, non-urgent medical appointments and holidays. 

Reporting an Absence

Should your child be absent from school, it is a parent’s responsibility to notify school at the earliest possible convenience via the absence line (01536 262000).  School must be notified on each day of your child’s absence. 

Home Visits

Parents and carers should be aware that home visits are completed by all Brooke Weston Trust schools as a standard procedure when children are absent from school. Should The Wellbeing Team have any safeguarding concerns for a particular child, home visits will be completed to these families in the first instance. Home visits allow school staff to see the child and discuss the absence with parents and carers, as well as being able to offer support if required. 

Punctuality

Parents have a legal responsibility to ensure that their child is not late for school. This can be extremely disruptive to a child’s daily routine and also mean that they miss a considerable amount of valuable learning time. 

Minutes late per day

Equivalent of missing

5 Minutes

3.4 school days a year

10 Minutes

6.9 school days a year

15 Minutes

10.3 school days a year

20 Minutes

13.8 school days a year

30 Minutes

20.7 school days a year

Should your child be arriving late to school, it is imperative that they enter school via our Main Reception and report to our Late Desk in order to be signed in. If your child is late due to attending an appointment, we ask that medical evidence is provided to support this. 

The Wellbeing Team regularly monitor children’s punctuality and if a child is identified as being persistently late, parents will be invited to a Punctuality Surgery meeting to discuss this and a target will be set to reduce lateness.

Leave During Term Time

Should parents or carers be taking their child out of school during term time, they are required to complete a leave during term time form prior to the absence commencing, notifying of the duration of leave and reason for absence. Forms can be collected from our Main Reception. 

Brooke Weston Trust Academies and the Local Authority are continuing to work together to reduce the amount of leave taken in term time by issuing Penalty Notices under Section 444(1) of the Education Act 1996 (amended regulations 2013). 

Parents need to be aware that, in line with the NNC Code of Conduct, a Penalty Notice can be issued for 5 days of absence (10 sessions). 

There is clear evidence that any absence can and will have an impact on attainment. With this in mind, periods of leave taken during term time will not be authorised. Referrals will be made to the Education Inclusion Partnership Team for 5 days of absence of more where consideration will be given to issue a penalty notice. 

Further support

Should you wish to discuss your child's attendance further, please contact the Wellbeing Team either via email (wellbeing@beanfieldprimary.org) or via telephone on 01536 262000.

Sarah Fleming (Senior Leader with responsibility for attendance)