📱Attendance Calls - Reminder
If your child is unable to attend school for a genuine reason, you are required to phone the school on 01633 612429 by 9:15am to inform us of the reason for the absence and the likely duration. If you're unsure of how long your child will be absent, please continue to contact us each morning until they return.
If the school is not contacted, a member of staff will reach out to you by phone to enquire about the reason for the absence and assist in encouraging regular, consistent pupil attendance. To help us with this, it is vital that all pupils' contact details are kept up to date.
🏖️Leave of Absence/Holidays in Term Time
At Risca Primary School, parents and carers do not have the automatic right to withdraw their children from school for an annual holiday, and we would like to remind families of the impact that absence can have on a pupil’s academic achievement.
Holidays during term time will only be authorised in exceptional circumstances. If you wish to request permission for a holiday or trip, you must apply in advance.
A holiday request form must be completed and submitted to the school office at least one week before the planned holiday or trip.
Please note that a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) may be issued by the Local Authority (LA) if a holiday or leave of absence is taken without prior school authorisation and exceeds 10 sessions. For more details, the LA’s Local Code of Conduct provides further information.
Our school will only approve holiday or trip requests if we believe there are exceptional circumstances. For family holidays, please allow a minimum of two weeks' notice. Forms to request a holiday or trip can be obtained from the school office.Â
🎓When Your Child Can Miss School
Your child should only miss school in the following circumstances:
They’re too ill to attend and are unable to participate in school activities.
You’ve got advance permission from the school, such as for a holiday or exceptional circumstances.
If your child is unable to attend school for long periods due to a health issue, we are here to offer extra support. Please contact the school so we can help make arrangements and provide any necessary assistance.
At Risca Primary School, any pupil who is absent during the morning or afternoon registration will have their absence recorded as authorised, unauthorised, or as an approved educational activity (attendance outside of school). Only the Headteacher or a member of staff acting on their behalf can authorise an absence.
If there is no known reason for the absence at the time of registration, the absence will be initially recorded as unexplained (code N). The school will then promptly follow up on any unexplained absences as part of its early intervention and safeguarding procedures.
🏆Attendance Incentives
At Risca Primary School, we are committed to making school a place where every child is excited to attend. To encourage and celebrate good attendance, we’ve introduced a range of fun and rewarding initiatives, including:
🏆 Celebration Assemblies – To recognise and reward good attendance.
🦉 Sam our Attendance Owl Mascot – A fun and engaging way to promote attendance.
🏅 100% Attendance Prizes – Encouraging pupils to aim for perfect attendance.
We also implement the Callio Colour Banding System for children’s attendance:
Green (95% and above) – Excellent attendance
Amber (90% - 94%) – Attendance is a concern and should be monitored
Red (Below 90%) – Persistent absenteeism, requiring attention and support
The Welsh Government challenges all pupils to attend for at least 97% of the school year, meaning no more than 6 days off per year. We work closely with parents to help ensure that every child reaches their full potential, both academically and socially, by attending school regularly.
At Risca Primary School, morning registration takes place at 8:50am. The registers will remain open for a maximum of 30 minutes, in line with Welsh Government guidelines.
Pupils who arrive after the start of school but before the end of the registration period will be marked as late (L).
Afternoon registration times are as follows:
Parents and carers are reminded that the Local Authority (LA) may issue a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) for persistent lateness after the close of the registration period if it exceeds 10 sessions. This is in accordance with the Local Code of Conduct.
🏫Our Attendance Officer
Mrs. K Bosley is our Attendance Officer and is here to support both your child and your family. Her role is essential in ensuring that communication between families, school staff, and various agencies remains strong, helping children reach their fullest potential.
An important part of her work is promoting regular school attendance. Attending school every day is crucial for your child’s success, not only academically but also in building a sense of belonging within the school community. Regular attendance helps your child stay on track with their learning, fosters positive relationships, and develops valuable life skills.
