We have recently received an FFT National Award for Pupil Attendance!

Thank you for visiting our Attendance Page, this is where you can find more information about:

• why attendance at school is so important
• what you can do to support your child at school
• how to decide if your child is too sick for school
• how you should let us know if your child is going to be absent
• how we monitor attendance here at school
• how we keep you up to date and let you know how many days your child has been absent
• how we help you improve your child's attendance

Why is attendance at school so important?

From January 2024, the government has launched a national campaign to remind parents and carers of the importance of school attendance.  We believe that improving school attendance is everyone’s business and want to work closely with parents to ensure that your child is able to get the very best out of their education and time with us at Somerset Bridge Primary School.

Did you know…

• It is the legal responsibility of parents/carers to ensure that children attend their registered school on time each day?
• Children that attend school every day not only develop their academic skills and knowledge but also have the chance to build friendships and develop their social and emotional skills?
• Regular school attendance can facilitate positive peer relationships, which is a protective factor for mental health and wellbeing?
• In 2018/19, just 40% of persistently absent children (attendance below 90%) in KS2 achieved expected KS2 standards, compared with 84% of pupils who were regular attenders?

What can you do to support your child at school?

Achieve Amazing Attendance! 

• Make doctors and dentists appointments during the school holidays or after school.  If you can only make an appointment during the school day, make it for the afternoon and bring your child into school first to get the correct mark in the register.  If possible your child should return to school after their appointment.
• Teach your child good hygiene - regular hand washing and using a tissue will help prevent them picking up or passing on bugs that lead to absence due to illness. 
• Avoid taking your child out of school during term time by booking breaks away during the school holidays.

Punctuality matters too:

• Children that arrive in good time for registration are able to talk to their friends and teachers before school and this helps them settle into the school day.
• If a child is late they miss important information about the day's activities, miss whole school assemblies and may miss the start of the first lesson of the day.

Perfect Punctuality Pointers 

• Be positive about going to school and the importance school has.
• It is a good idea to prep and lay out uniform, shoes, lunches and water bottles the night before.
• Have a list your children can see, of tasks they need to complete in a morning such as get dressed, shoes on, water bottle filled, teeth brushed etc so they know what they need to do to be ready to leave on time.
• Set an alarm in your phone or on Alexa when there are 10 minutes left to leave the house so your children have a reminder that it is almost time to go.
• Turn off TV and screens during breakfast and getting ready time.
• Whether you drive your children to school or walk with them make sure that you leave the house in good time to arrive.
• Establish a regular bedtime to ensure that your child gets a good night’s sleep, awakes rested the next morning and has enough time to prepare for school.

How do I decide if my child is too sick for school?

We understand that sometimes it is hard to decide if your child is too sick for school. 

Top tips:

• Children get colds and headaches often but don't always need to miss a full day of school.  Try getting them to eat something, drink plenty of water or if necessary give a suitable medication according to packet or GP instructions.
• If they feel better later on, bring them to school, even if they have missed the morning - just give us a quick call to let us know when to expect you.
• Use us. It is better to send your child to school. If we feel they are too unwell to stay we will send them home. You cannot be referred for poor attendance if the school makes the decision for your child to remain at home.

The DfE have also released a useful poster to help parents decide if their child is too sick for school.

• Should I keep my child off school?

How should I let you know if my child is going to be absent or late?

Please contact the school by 8:30am on each day your child is absent by either ringing the main office number (01278) 422100 and choosing the absence line option or sending an email to office@somersetbridge.school.

If you need to take your child out of school during term time other than for medical reasons, please complete a “Request for Term Time Leave” form 4 weeks in advance.  The decision to authorise absences rests with the Headteacher and will only be considered in circumstances which are both exceptional and unavoidable.

If your child needs to leave school early, you must contact the school office in advance to make us aware.  Your child will not be allowed to leave early unless collected by an authorised adult (even if they normally walk home by themselves). 

How do we monitor attendance?

Attendance in school is monitored twice a day, morning and afternoon, when the teachers take the register.  Our registration periods are as follows:

	Registers open	Registers taken
Morning session	8:45 am	9:00 am
Afternoon session	Reception – 1:00 pm KS1 – 1:15 pm LKS2 – 1:30 pm UKS2 – 1:00 pm	Reception – 1:15pm KS1 – 1:30 pm LKS2 – 1:45 pm UKS2 – 1:15 pm

Absence rates are calculated as a percentage of the total number of possible attendances for all pupils of the school in the stage shown. Each morning and each afternoon of each school day is considered as a separate possible attendance.

Monitoring of attendance at a whole school level takes place every fortnight. The attendance team use this time to identify patterns of absence for individuals, to analyse attendance data for key pupil groups in school and to discuss the support we may put in place for children where their attendance is of concern.

How do we let you know how many days your child has been absent?

Parents will be kept informed of their child’s attendance through our attendance letters, which will inform parents of their child’s percentage absence and whether it is of concern or a matter for celebration. Our attendance letters will be sent out in January and April. Should a child’s attendance at school reach the criteria described in this policy, school will be in touch using our procedures to improve a child’s attendance at school

Level of Attendance	Attendance Rate
Excellent	99-100%
Requires some improvement	96-98.9%
Requires improvement	90-95.9%
Persistently Absent	50-89.9%
Severely Absent	Below 50%

All pupil attendance and absence levels are monitored on a regular basis. When a pupil’s attendance becomes a concern, a graduated and supportive response will be put in place, to support improved attendance. In some cases, this may result in multi-agency support being requested, including the Education Safeguarding Service, who uphold the local authority’s statutory duty to improve school attendance.

How do we support you to achieve excellent attendance for your child?

• We make school an exciting and safe place to be; our curriculum is engaging and the children know their are trusted adults in school who help to keep them safe.
• Attendance is regularly discussed with the children in school and the children are aware of our whole school target for attendance.
• We praise excellent attendance and most improved attendance through celebration assemblies, certificates and positive emails home.
• When extra support is needed, our pastoral team are available to discuss any concerns or barriers your child may have about attending school.
• Where needed, we seek the advice of external professionals to help offer additional support for children who struggle to attend school regularly.

We would like to thank you for your support in making sure your child attends school regularly: Moments matter, attendance counts!