Attendance

At Heygarth Primary School, we believe that good attendance is essential for children to achieve their full potential.

Regular attendance supports children’s learning, wellbeing, friendships and sense of belonging within the school community and children who attend school regularly:

• Make better progress academically

• Develop stronger friendships

• Feel more confident and settled in school

• Build good habits for the future

We expect all pupils to attend school every day and on time, unless they are too unwell to attend.

The school day begins between 8:45am and 9:00am and it is important that pupils arrive on time so they are ready to start learning with their class. Late arrival can disrupt learning and may cause children to miss important parts of the school day.

Heygarth Primary School is proudly recognised as an Inclusive Attendance school. Our unwavering commitment to attendance centres around child-centric actions, evidence-informed practices, and a shared understanding of everyone's roles and collective responsibilities to promote exceptional attendance.

At Heygarth Primary School, we are driven by an unwavering commitment to making school attendance a top priority, fully integrated with every aspect of school improvement. Using the Inclusive Attendance Model – the first and only accredited programme providing the pedagogy of practice – we support children and families to connect, belong, and thrive.

Each year, Heygarth Primary School reviews and further enhances attendance practices through dedicated participation in the Inclusive Attendance 7-month implementation programme. This investment allows us to remain at the forefront of educational change and extends unparalleled support to our children and their families, equipping them with access to the finest possible support.

The Inclusive Attendance professional development model fundamentally guides our attendance approach. Comprising six tailored Learning Modules, this model empowers us to deepen our understanding by facilitating continuous professional learning for all staff. Within this model, the four domains of practice ensure the provision of professional learning, professional development, evidence-based practices, and exemplary leadership and management seamlessly integrate theory into practice.

Multi-Tiered System of Support

To guarantee a comprehensive approach to attendance, we implement a Multi-Tiered System of Support. A Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) for school attendance involves three tiers of intervention, with roles for teachers, the school, children, parents, and external agencies – including the Local Authority. Data-driven decision-making and training requirements are pivotal to the implementation of the system. The system aligns with the Department for Education's (DFE) "Working Together to Improve School Attendance" guidelines.

Reporting Absence

Even a small amount of absence can have a significant impact on learning over time. If your child is unable to attend school due to illness or another unavoidable reason, please contact the school office by 8:45am on the morning of the first absence by phone call or email. Please include a clear and detailed reason for your child’s absence so that we can record absences accurately and support families appropriately.

If your child is absent for more than one day, please contact us each morning to let us know.

As part of our safeguarding procedures, if parents or carers do not contact the school to explain their child’s absence, we may carry out a Safe and Well check. This may involve contacting you directly, contacting other named contacts that you have shared with us, or visiting the family home.

You can report an absence by:

• Telephoning the school office

• Emailing the school office

Please provide your child’s name, class and the reason for their absence.

If we do not receive a reason for absence, the school will contact you to ensure that your child is safe.

Medical Appointments

Where possible, medical and dental appointments should be arranged outside of school hours. If this is not possible, please inform the school in advance and provide appointment evidence as we will ask for it.

Holidays During Term Time

The DfE does not allow schools to authorise holidays during term time, except in exceptional circumstances. Parents are therefore strongly encouraged to arrange family holidays during the school holiday periods. Requests for leave during term time must be made in advance to the Headteacher using a Leave of Absence request form.