Attendance Procedures

At Oakfield First School, we are committed to ensuring that every child’s attendance is accurately recorded and that we work in partnership with families to support excellent attendance. Thank you for your continued efforts in helping us meet national attendance requirements, your support is truly appreciated.

To help the office staff manage the registers effectively and ensure that all children are accounted for each day, we kindly ask that any absence is reported by email to the school office at: office@oakfieldfirstschool.org.uk. Please include the word 'Absence' plus your child's surname and class in the subject field of the email.

Please ensure that you contact us by 9:15am on the day of the absence with a clear reason for your child’s absence. It is important that we have a reason for each individual child who is absent. If we have not received a reason by 9:15am, the school will contact you to follow up. If we are unable to reach you, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised in line with our attendance policy.

We also ask that all medical appointments are supported by medical evidence, which may include:

• A screenshot of the appointment confirmation
• A prescription given on the day of the appointment
• An appointment card or note from the GP surgery
• A letter from a medical professional, such as a consultant

This is to ensure our records remain accurate and the correct register codes are used.

We kindly request that all absences are communicated by email, rather than by speaking to staff at the hatch or calling the office. We understand that some appointments may be made at short notice, and we appreciate your understanding in helping us maintain clear and consistent records for all children.

We understand the importance of regular school attendance and the positive impact it has on children’s learning and well-being. If you would like support with attendance routines or strategies at home, please feel free to speak to Mrs Peace at the gate or arrange a time to meet with her in school.

Thank you again for working with us and we value your support.

All children have a right to education in this country

This is a basic human right under the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, Equality and Human Rights Commission (2012)

UNICEF states that ‘Every child has the right to an education which develops their personality, talents and abilities to the full’.

Parents are responsible by law to ensure their children arrive on time and attend school regularly.
Parents of compulsory school age (five to sixteen) children have a legal duty to ensure their children receive suitable education, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise than at a school (this includes home education). If a child is registered at school, parents have the legal responsibility for ensuring that their child attends regularly. (Department for Education 2012.)

Your child's education is your child's future

What can parents and carers do to encourage school attendance?

• Encourage your child to come to school. School is fun and exciting!
• Don’t keep them off from school unless they are REALLY poorly.
• Give yourself and your child plenty of time in the morning. Stick to the same routine.
• Make sure your child goes to bed at a reasonable time.
• Contact the school first thing in the morning if they are unwell and keep them informed.
• Bring your child to school on time and pick them up on time.
• Let the school know if you change your address and/or telephone number.
• If you are experiencing problems with getting your child to school; speak to the teaching staff early.
• Don’t take holidays in term time

Poor Punctuality

• If your child is frequently late for school it adds up to lost learning:
• Arriving 5 minutes late every day adds up to over 3 days lost each year
• Arriving 15 minutes late every day is the same as being absent for 2 weeks a year
• Arriving 30 minutes late every day is the same as being absent for 19 days a year
• 19 days lost a year through being late = 90% attendance.
• If your child attends school they are more likely to get on in life.
• If your child regularly misses school, they are more likely to become involved in anti social behaviour.
• If a child misses just one day a week, over the course of their school career they will miss two years of schooling.