Make Every Day Matter at Warmingham CE Primary School

Warmingham CE Primary School is committed to providing the very best educational experience for every child, and good attendance and punctuality play a vital role in this.

Each academic year consists of 190 school days, leaving 175 non-school days for family time, holidays, appointments and other activities.

At Warmingham CE Primary School, we believe that every day in school provides valuable opportunities for learning, growth and the development of lifelong habits. When children attend regularly and arrive on time, they are able to fully engage in lessons, participate in discussions, build friendships and benefit from the wide range of experiences school offers.

Regular attendance supports children to flourish academically, socially and emotionally. It also helps to develop important qualities such as responsibility, commitment and resilience, which are essential for future success both in education and beyond.

We understand that there are times when attendance can be challenging. Our aim is always to work in partnership with families to support good attendance and ensure every child has the best possible opportunity to thrive. If you need advice or support, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you for working with us to ensure every child benefits from the opportunities each school day provides.

Authorised Absence

At Warmingham CE Primary School, we recognise that there are legitimate reasons why a child may be unable to attend school, including illness, hospital appointments, religious observance or other exceptional circumstances.

Only the school can authorise an absence. An absence will usually only be authorised when a child is unable to attend due to illness, is participating in a recognised religious observance, or where exceptional circumstances have been agreed in advance by the Headteacher.

If your child is unwell, please contact the school office by 9:00am on the first day of absence.

Lateness

We want every child to make the most of their school day, which is why punctuality is so important.

The school gate opens at 8:30am and school begins promptly at 8:45am. All pupils should be in class and ready for registration at this time. If a child arrives after 8:45am, they must enter through the main entrance and be signed in at the school office by a parent or carer.

Children arriving after 8:45am will receive a late mark. Registers close at 9:00am and any child arriving after this time will receive an unauthorised late mark unless a valid medical reason is provided.

Leave of Absence During Term Time

At Warmingham CE Primary School, we believe that every day in school matters.

In line with Department for Education guidance and the Diocese of Chester Academies Trust (CDAT) Attendance Policy, family holidays, short breaks and leisure trips taken during term time will be recorded as unauthorised absence and will not be authorised by the school.

Leave of absence during term time will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. These are rare, significant and unavoidable situations that could not reasonably be arranged outside of school term time. Examples may include:

• • The wedding of a close family member.
  • A genuine once-in-a-lifetime event or invitation.
  • Religious observance requested in advance.
  • Other exceptional circumstances where there is no reasonable alternative to the absence taking place during term time.

Parents must complete a Request for Leave of Absence During Term Time Form for all planned absences during term time, regardless of whether they believe the absence will be authorised or unauthorised. Requests should be submitted at least 20 school days in advance, wherever possible.

Please note that submitting a request does not guarantee that leave will be authorised. Each request will be considered individually by the Headteacher and supporting evidence may be requested.

You can download the Request for Leave of Absence During Term Time Form below.

Under the national framework, the school may refer cases to the Local Authority for consideration of a Penalty Notice where a child accumulates 10 unauthorised sessions (equivalent to 5 school days) within a rolling 10-school-week period. These sessions do not need to be consecutive and may include unauthorised leave during term time, unauthorised lateness or other unauthorised absences. Penalty Notices are issued per parent, per child, in accordance with national and local authority guidance.

Monitoring Attendance and Punctuality

At Warmingham CE Primary School, we closely monitor attendance and punctuality to ensure that every child is able to benefit fully from their education.

Where attendance concerns arise, we will contact families promptly and work together to identify any support that may be needed. We understand that there can be many reasons why attendance may become a concern and we are committed to working with families in a supportive and non-judgemental way.

In line with Department for Education expectations, where attendance concerns persist despite support and intervention, the school may need to involve external agencies, including the Local Authority.

Our shared goal is to ensure that every child attends regularly, achieves their full potential and enjoys all that school life has to offer.