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Lymington CE Infant School

Attendance

For our children to take full advantage of the educational opportunities offered it is vital your child is at school, on time, every day the school is open unless the reason for the absence is unavoidable. The routines children develop around attendance and punctuality at school are the same as the expectations of any future employer in the world of work. High attainment, confidence with peers and staff, and future aspirations depend on good attendance. 

The foundation for good attendance is a strong partnership between the school, parents and the child. Particularly at an infant school, parental attitude to attendance is key. Showing your child the importance of attending school every day not only helps your child to settle quickly when starting school but helps them to keep and maintain friendships and enjoy the school environment.

Legally the register must be marked twice daily. This is once at the start of the school day at 8.45am, and again for the afternoon session at 1.00pm.

Like you, we want the best for your child and we know that children who are in school do better than those who are not. Just 90% attendance can have a significant impact on a child’s learning as is illustrated ono the document below.

  How can you encourage good attendance?

  • Expect your child to go to school and ensure that your child knows this.
  • Ask your child about their day at school and talk about what they might be doing in the future at school.
  • Approach the school earlier rather than later if you have issues with  attendance.
  • If your child’s attendance could be attributed to emotional wellbeing, please contact a member of staff who can support

Absence Notification

If your child is sick, please contact us as soon as possible (and before 9.15am at the latest) on the first day of absence; telephone, email or visit the school office.

Advise us on the nature of your child’s absence. Please note that in the event of sickness and/or diarrhoea, the exclusion period is 48 hours since the last bout of illness.

Update the school daily on subsequent day’s absence (unless advised otherwise.)

If your child is absent and we have not heard from you by 9.15am at the latest, we will telephone you and any other contacts that have been provided to us to confirm your child’s whereabouts. We have a safeguarding duty to ensure your child’s safety as well as their regular school attendance. A child not attending school is considered a safeguarding matter. This is why information about the cause of any absence is always required

Medical appointments

We ask that you try to make medical and dental appointments outside the school day if possible.  However, if your child has a medical appointment, please ensure you notify the school office.

Holidays

Holidays in term time will not be authorised. Parents/carers are expected wherever possible to plan and take family holidays during the 13 weeks of school holidays, so as not to disrupt their child’s education. Requests for absence may only be authorised if there are exceptional circumstances.  Further details and an application form to request absence due to exceptional circumstances are available from the school office.

Penalties for non-attendance at school

Parents are legally responsible for ensuring their child attends school regularly and punctually. Parents/careers who take their child out of school without the absence being agreed and authorised can be issued with a penalty fine.  Further details can be found below:

Link for working together to improve school attendance DFE Document                        Lymington Infant School Attendance PolicyHampshire County Council Information on Penalty Notices for non-attendance at school                      Hampshire Attendance guide for Parents

Is your child too poorly for school?

It can sometimes be a worry when children become unwell, but it is not always obvious how to care for them or whether you should keep them at home.  You can now find handy guidance from the NHS in one place online.  This guidance will help you identify a possible  condition, so you can decide whether to send your child to school.  Follow the link to the NHS website where you will find a list of common childhood illnesses and conditions from conjunctivitis to head lice, as well as symptoms such as a high temperature and a sore throat and what these may mean       

https://www.what0-18.nhs.uk/