Mountnessing C of E Primary School To unlock every child's potential as a unique child of God.
Attendance
Mountnessing Primary School recognises that positive behaviour and good attendance are essential in order for pupils to get the most of their school experience, including their attainment, wellbeing and wider life chances.
The law entitles every child of compulsory school age to an efficient, full-time education suitable to their age, aptitude, and any special educational need they may have. It is the legal responsibility of every parent to make sure their child receives that education either by attendance at a school or by education otherwise than at a school.
Where parents decide to have their child registered at school, they have an additional legal duty to ensure their child attends that school regularly, on time. This means their child must attend every day that the school is open, except in a small number of allowable circumstances such as being too ill to attend or being given permission for an absence in advance from the school.
The Department for Education (DfE) has produced statutory guidance for maintained schools, academies, independent schools, and local authorities. It is called “Working together to improve school attendance” and it includes a National Framework in relation to absence and the use of legal sanctions. Our School Attendance Policy reflects the requirements and principles of that guidance.
At Mountnessing CE Primary School, we believe that every day counts. Regular attendance is essential for children to make good progress academically, develop friendships, build confidence and fully participate in school life.
We expect every child to attend school every day unless there is a genuine reason for absence that meets the criteria set out in our Attendance Policy. Where a child is absent due to illness, we may request medical evidence to support the absence.
Holidays during term time will not be authorised unless there are exceptional circumstances, and any decision rests at the discretion of the Headteacher. Forms must be completed with an attached letter stating the reason for the exceptional circumstance.
We work closely with families to promote excellent attendance and punctuality through a range of positive initiatives. Our weekly Attendance Heroes celebrate pupils with strong attendance, while our Beat the Bell challenge encourages classes to improve punctuality and reduce absence. We also encourage children to attend school on their birthdays, where they can enjoy celebrating their special day with their friends and school community. By working together, we can ensure that every child has the best possible opportunity to learn, achieve and thrive.
If a child's attendance falls below our school expectations, we will invite parents and carers to meet with the Headteacher to discuss the reasons for the absence and identify any support that may be needed.
We monitor attendance, punctuality and unauthorised absences closely and expect families to work in partnership with us to ensure children attend regularly and on time.
Early intervention is important, and by working together we can address any barriers to attendance before they have a significant impact on a child's education, wellbeing and sense of belonging within the school community.
Our aim is always to support families whilst maintaining high expectations and ensuring every child benefits from the opportunities that school provides every day.