Attendance and Punctuality

As we begin the new school year, we would like to remind families that, in line with advice from our Local Authority Education Welfare Officer, we will be monitoring attendance and punctuality very closely throughout the year.

Please take a few moments to read the information included in this newsletter, which highlights the significant impact that lateness and absence can have on children's progress, attainment and overall wellbeing. Every lesson counts, and even small amounts of lost learning time can quickly add up over the course of a school year.

We would also like to remind families that, unless there are exceptional circumstances, schools are unable to authorise leave of absence during term time. Requests for holidays or other leave during term time will not normally be authorised and, where unauthorised absences occur, families may receive a Penalty Notice in line with Local Authority procedures.

We understand that there are occasions when children are genuinely unwell or exceptional circumstances arise, and we appreciate your support in ensuring that your child attends school every day whenever possible and arrives on time, ready to learn.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to your child's education. By working together, we can ensure that every child has the best possible opportunity to succeed.

Reminder: Lunch Arrangements

A polite reminder that the lunch choice made at the beginning of each half term must remain in place for the duration of that half term.

Unfortunately, it is not possible for children to switch between packed lunches and school dinners more frequently than this. Our catering provider orders food for the entire half term based on the choices submitted at the start of the term. If children change between packed lunches and school dinners more frequently, it can result in either significant food waste or insufficient food being available for those who have ordered a school meal.

For this reason, we kindly ask parents and carers to carefully consider their child's lunch arrangement before the start of each half term, as changes cannot be accommodated once the half term has begun.

Please do not ask the school office to alter your child's lunch choice during the half term, as staff will unfortunately have to decline these requests. We appreciate that this may be disappointing, but adhering to this policy helps ensure the catering service runs fairly and efficiently for all pupils and avoids placing office staff in the difficult position of having to refuse requests.

Thank you for your understanding, cooperation and continued support.