Good Attendance
Good attendance is important because:
- regular and punctual attendance is essential for effective learning
- statistics show a direct link between under-achievement and attendance below 95%
- regular attenders make better progress, both socially and academically
- regular attenders find school routines, school work and friendships easier to cope with
- regular attenders find learning more satisfying
- regular attenders are more successful in transferring between primary school, secondary school, and higher education, employment or training
We place great importance on attendance and monitor attendance daily. Attendance has a high profile within our school and we recognise and reward good and improved attendance.
School Times
The school day starts at 8.40am and the school gates are opened at 8:35. Families are then free to take their children to the classroom door where they will be welcomed by an adult from the class and the child will go straight into their class and begin an activity (often a reading activity) to begin their day.
The day finishes at 3:20pm. An adult from the class will then hand over your child back to you at the end of the day from the external door to their classroom.
If your child is in Year 5 or 6, could you please contact the school office if you would like to give them permission to walk home from school by themselves.
Holidays in Term Time
Headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.
As explained in our attendance policy, this means that we will not authorise leave of absence for family holidays during term time, unless we are satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances. If you wish to take your child out of school during term time, we ask that you complete a 'Withdrawal from Learning Request' form.
To access a 'Withdrawal from Learning Request' form, please click here.
Please ask at the school office for more information.
Penalty Notice Charges
First penalty notices are charged at £160 per parent, per child. This amount is reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days.
Where it has been deemed appropriate to issue a second Penalty Notice to the same parent for the same pupil within 3 years of the first notice, the second penalty notice will be charged at a flat rate of £160 per parent, per child, to be paid within 28 days (there is no reduction for this).
The third time that any offence is committed and a sanction is requested for either a leave of absence or irregular attendance, a Penalty Notice will not be issued. The case will be presented straight to the Magistrates Court. A prosecution can result in the parent receiving a criminal record and fines of up to £2,500. Cases found guilty in the Magistrates Court can show on the parent’s future DBS certificate due to ‘failure to safeguard a child’s education’.
Pupil absence
The pupil’s parent/carer must notify the academy of the reason for the absence on the first day of an unplanned absence by 9:00am or as soon as practically possible by contacting the school office. Parents and carers must notify the academy by either phoning on 01243 784046, emailing the academy’s office on office@kingshamprimary.org.uk or send a notification via Arbor.
For further information regarding a child's absence, please refer to the school's attendance policy. Your child's health and overall development is incredibly important to us, so we strongly recommend referring to relevant health services including:
More information
For more information about attendance please click here to read the information from West Sussex County Council. You can also read a letter regarding how the local authority will implement the changes effective on 19th August 2024.
Full information regarding attendance is contained in the attached document from the Department for Education: "Working Together to Improve School Attendance".