Attendance and Punctuality
The school day begins at 8:55am and the school gates are opened at 8:45am. Children are recorded as late if they are not in classrooms ready for registration by 8:55am. All lateness is recorded and monitored, so it is important that your child arrives at school on time.
The school day begins at 8:55am and the school gates are opened at 8:45am. Children are recorded as late if they are not in classrooms ready for registration by 8:55am. All lateness is recorded and monitored, so it is important that your child arrives at school on time.
Illness
Regular attendance at school is important for your child’s education; however there may be times when your child is too unwell to attend school. To report your child as absent, please call the office on 020 8800 9007 or visit the office in person. If your child is absent for more than one day, please remember to phone the school each morning.
Attendance
Good attendance at school is not just valuable, it’s essential. Going to school is directly linked to improved learning outcomes which should in turn lead to further opportunities and better job prospects. As well as this, going to school helps to develop:
- Friendships
- Social skills
- Team values
- Good mental health
- Life skills
Good attendance should begin as soon as children start school, whether this is in Nursery or Reception classes. Good habits and high expectations start here!
Absence from school
We record details of pupils’ attendance and absence at school. We do this at the beginning of morning and afternoon sessions meaning that each day your child receives two half day marks.
If your child is going to be absent from school, (e.g. for an unavoidable appointment) then you should let the school know as soon as possible. If your child has been absent due to an unexpected event such as bereavement or illness then you must also let the school know on the first day of absence in line with our attendance policy.
We will then record the absence. If you fail to tell the school as to why your child has not been present then the school may record that period of absence as being unauthorised.
Attendance in figures
We will advise parents of a child’s overall attendance levels at least once a year. This will usually include a percentage attendance figure.
Achieving 90 per cent in an exam or test is a fantastic result but if your child is at school for only 90 per cent of the school year then they will have missed 19 days – almost four whole weeks of school. For primary-age children, this can mean almost 120 guided learning hours. This is a big gap for any child to make up.
The expected level of attendance for Hackney school children is at least 95%. Our school target for attendance is 96.5%.
Because attendance is so important, we check attendance each week and send weekly 100% attendance text messages where this figure has been achieved and we will also let you know by text message as soon as your child’s absence falls below 96%.
We were awarded the FFT Attendance Award for being in the top 25% of FFT schools nationally for attendance in the Autumn 23/24 term. Thank you to all the parents who supported us in this achievement.
Your legal responsibilities as a parent
By law, all children of school age must receive a suitable full-time education. For most parents, this means registering your child at a school or you may choose to make other arrangements to provide a suitable, full-time education.
Once your child is registered at a school, you are legally responsible for making sure they go regularly.
What YOU can do to make sure your child is successful in school, all day, every day
You can help prevent your child missing school by:
- having a routine from an early age and sticking it to it
- making sure your child understands the importance of good attendance and punctuality
- making sure they understand the possible implications for themselves and you as a parent if they don’t go to school
- taking an interest in their education – ask about school work and encourage them to get involved in school activities
- discussing any problems they may have at school and letting their teacher or principal know about anything that is causing concern
- not letting them take time off school for minor ailments or holidays during term time
To avoid disrupting your child’s education, you should arrange (as far as possible), appointments and outings:
- after school hours
- at weekends
- during school holidays
Term time holidays
Term time holidays have been increasing over the last number of years. Parents should make every effort to make sure that their child does not miss school due to holiday plans. Schools are not obliged to agree to you taking your child on holiday during term time. They are entitled to record such holidays as being an unauthorised absence.
The beginning and end of the day
Being punctual is as important as good attendance.
Our soft start means that pupils need to arrive on time between 8:45-8:55am and unless they attend clubs, be collected promptly at 3:30pm. Any children arriving after 8:55am, or picked up after 3:30pm will be given a late warning. Children must be collected by someone aged 16 or over.
Illness
If you are not sure how long your child should be off school the table below will provide a guide for you. For more information on an illness or condition and the latest up-to-date guidance please visit nhs.co.uk.
| Condition | Recommended period to be kept away from school (once child is well) | Comments |
| Chickenpox | Until all spots have crusted and formed a scab – usually five to seven days from onset of rash | Chicken pox causes a rash of red, itchy spots that turn into fluid-filled blisters. They then crust over to form scabs, which eventually drop off. |
| Cold sores | None | Many healthy children and adults excrete this virus at some time without having a ‘sore’ (herpes simplex virus) |
| German measles | Five days from onset of rash | The child is most infectious before the diagnosis is made and most children should be immune to immunisation so that exclusion after the rash appears will prevent very few cases |
| Hand, foot and mouth disease | None | Usually a mild disease not justifying time off school |
| Impetigo | 48 hours after treatment starts and/or until lesions are crusted or healed | Antibiotic treatment by mouth may speed healing. If lesions can reliably be kept covered exclusion may be shortened |
| Measles | Five days from onset of rash | Measles is now rare in the UK |
| Molluscum contagiosum | None | A mild condition |
| Ringworm (Tinea) | None | Proper treatment by the GP is important. Scalp ringworm needs treatment with an antifungal by mouth |
| Roseolla | None | A mild illness, usually caught from well persons |
| Scabies | Until treated | Outbreaks have occasionally occurred in schools and nurseries. Child can return as soon as properly treated. This should include all the persons in the household. |
| Scarlet fever | Five days from child commencing antibiotics | Treatment recommended for the affected |
| Warts and verrucae | None | Affected children may go swimming but verrucae should be covered |
| Diarrhoea and/or vomiting (with or without a specified diagnosis) | Until diarrhoea and vomiting has settled (neither for the previous 48 hours). Please check with the school before sending your child back. | Usually there will be no specific diagnosis and for most conditions there is no specific treatment. A longer period of exclusion may be appropriate for children under age 5 and older children unable to maintain good personal hygiene. |
| Giardiasis | Until diarrhoea has settled for the previous 48 hours) | There is a specific antibiotic treatment |
| Salmonella | Until diarrhoea and vomiting has settled (neither for the previous 48 hours) | If the child is under five years or has difficulty in personal hygiene, seek advice from the Consultant in Communicable Disease Control. |
| Shigella (Bacillary dysentery) | Until diarrhoea has settled (for the previous 48 hours) | If the child is under five years or had difficulty in personal hygiene, seek advice from the Consultant in Communicable Disease Control. |
| Flu (Influenza) | None | Flu is most infectious just before and at the onset of symptoms |
| Tuberculosis | CCDC will advise | Generally requires quite prolonged, close contact for spread on action. Not usually spread from children. |
| Whooping cough (Pertussis) | Five days from commencing antibiotic treatment | Treatment (usually with erythromycin) is recommended though non-infectious coughing may still continue for many weeks |
| Conjunctivitis | None | If an outbreak occurs consult Consultant in Communicable Disease Control |
| Glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis) | None | |
| Head lice (nits) | None | Treatment is recommended only in cases where live lice have definitely been seen |
| Meningococcal meningitis/septicaemia | The CCDC will give specific advice on any action needed | There is no reason to exclude from schools siblings and other close contacts of a case |
| Meningitis not due to Meningococcal infection | None | Once the child is well infection risk is minimal |
| Mumps | Five days from onset of swollen glands | The child is most infectious before the diagnosis is made and most children should be immune due to immunisation |
| Threadworms | None | Transmission is uncommon in schools but treatment is recommended for the child and family. |
| Tonsillitis | None | There are many causes, but most cases are due to viruses and do not need an antibiotic. For one cause, streptococcal infection, antibiotic treatment is recommended |