Attendance

School Attendance Matters

At Hunnyhill Ormiston Academy, we want every child to achieve the very best they can.

So how well is your child doing?

Figures can be misleading! Even 90% attendance which sounds quite good is actually the same as missing half a day of education every single school week….or nearly four full weeks every school year. That’s a lot of school time missed!

Please help us and your child to achieve their full potential by ensuring their attendance remains high. Please don’t hesitate to contact the school to discuss any issues which are contributing to poor attendance in order that we can work with you to make the necessary improvement.

We are required by law to refer families to the Education and Inclusion Service (E&I) if their child’s individual attendance falls below that which is expected or if children are continually late. You will then be invited into school for a meeting with the Headteacher and a representative from the LA’s Education & Inclusion Service to discuss the matter further.

We strongly feel that by working together we can ensure that your child has the very best chance of achieving their full potential at Hunnyhill Primary School and for them to continue being successful learners throughout Secondary School and beyond.

It can be tricky deciding whether or not to keep your child off school, nursery or playgroup when they’re unwell.

There are government guidelines for schools and nurseries about managing specific infectious diseases at GOV.UK. These say when children should be kept off school and when they shouldn’t.

If you do keep your child at home, it’s important to phone the school or nursery on the first day. Let them know that your child won’t be in and give them the reason.

If your child is well enough to go to school but has an infection that could be passed on, such as a cold sore or head lice, let their teacher know.

Please find the link to the NHS to give advice on whether to send your child to school: Is my child too ill for school? – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Please call or dojo the office if your child is poorly. We ask you to call each day of absence.
In line with LA and Government policies holidays will not be authorised.
Please let us know if your child is not attending school as it will save us a call to you.

Please also help your child to be punctual

Arrivals after the doors/gates are locked will need to enter and sign in via the main office.
Any Pupils arriving late after registration will need to sign in at the main entrance on Forest Road and will be taken to class.
Any pupils arriving late will be recorded as late on the register.

We have a number of children who attend school regularly but arrive late each day. Being late every day can add up to a lot of lost learning time.

5 minutes late every day adds up to over 3 days lost each year.
15 minutes late every day is the same as being absent for 2 weeks a year.
30 minutes late every day is the same as being absent for 19 days a year.

Every single day missed at school or arriving late to school equals a gap in your child’s learning. It is very hard for children to catch up when they have missed out vital parts of their education.

Registration in classrooms closes at 8:40am for EYFS and Year 1 each morning, and 8:45am for Years 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Children arriving in their classroom after this time will have missed the official register in SIMS and therefore MUST be signed in the late book and a valid reason for lateness given.

Please do not hesitate to come into school if you need any support with improving your child’s attendance. We are always happy to talk to you and would much rather sort out little problems before they become bigger ones.

Family Holidays in term-time are not authorised. Exceptional circumstances are limited and any such requests must be put in writing to the Principal for consideration. However, these MUST be exceptional e.g. families of service personnel who are back from operational tours, bereavement of a close family member for the funeral service etc.

I need to speak to my child’s teacher…

Senior leaders will be available to take messages on the school gates.
Private message the class teacher via Dojo.
Telephone the office to make an appointment after school or arrange a phonecall
Talk with the class teacher once they have seen the class out safely at the end of the day.

Leave of Absence Form:

Leave of Absence Application Form Download

Welcome

Safeguarding

Year 6 Junior Governors and Leadership

Curriculum Overview

Pre-School

Attendance

School Attendance Matters

Leave of Absence Form: