School Attendance Matters

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart.” — Colossians 3:23

At Langar, we believe that good habits begin with small, everyday choices. Being there, being on time, keeping our commitments and showing up for one another are qualities that will serve children throughout their lives. Coming to school regularly is about much more than attendance figures: it's about developing confidence, resilience, responsibility and a sense of belonging. These are the foundations on which children build happy, fulfilling lives, and another way we help them experience life in all its fullness (John 10:10).

To this end, we will do all we can to encourage parents/carers to ensure their children achieve maximum possible attendance and that any problems that prevent full attendance are identified and acted on promptly. 

 Every day counts 

Pupils cannot achieve their full potential if they do not regularly attend school. We want every child to achieve their full potential and we know that parents share this goal. There is a clear link between good attendance and educational achievement. If your child is not in school, on time, as often as possible they will be missing out on many important parts of their education.

Why is regular attendance at school important?

Regular school attendance will mean that your child has a better chance in life. Your child will achieve better when they go to school all day, every school day as:

·         they learn better

·         they make friends

·         they are happier

·         they have a brighter future.

The Government regard 95% as the minimum satisfactory attendance for a school pupil.

Days off school add up to lost learning. Please don’t let your children miss out on the education they deserve.

We monitor attendance closely and contact parents to inform them and offer support where attendance has dropped and causes concern. We are always happy to work with families to support and improve attendance.

How does your child compare?

Reasons for Absence

Authorised Absence: an absence agreed by the Head Teacher with an explanation from parents

Unauthorised Absence: an absence not agreed or unexplained

Medical: an appointment such as hospital, doctor or dentist

Illness: illness as informed by the parent or on receipt of doctor’s/hospital notes if required.

Family emergencies need careful consideration. It is not always in the best interests of the pupil to miss school for family emergencies that are being dealt with by adult family members. School and school friendships and relationships can provide pupils with stability and care during difficult times. The routine of school can provide a safe and familiar background to life during times of upheaval.

Illness

If your child is unwell, please inform the office on the morning of each absence by school telephone. We are very happy for your child to return to school when they start to feel better, however, in line with national policy, please allow 48 hours before returning your children after sickness or diarrhoea. 

Is my child too ill for school? NHS Guidance 

It can be tricky deciding whether or not to keep your child off school, nursery or playgroup when they're unwell.

There are government guidelines for schools and nurseries about health protection and managing specific infectious diseases at GOV.UK. These say when children should be kept off school and when they shouldn't.

If you do keep your child at home, it's important to phone the school or nursery on the first day. Let them know that your child won't be in and give them the reason.

If your child is well enough to go to school but has an infection that could be passed on, such as a cold sore or head lice, let their teacher know. 
See below a list of ailments complete with advice for the action you should take. 

High temperature

If your child has a high temperature, keep them off school until it goes away.

Feeling anxious or worried

It's normal for children to feel a little anxious sometimes. They may get a tummy ache or headache, or have problems eating or sleeping.

Avoiding school can make a child's anxiety about going to school worse. It's good to talk about any worries they may have such as bullying, friendship problems, school work or sensory problems. You can also work with the school to find ways to help them.

If your child is still struggling and it's affecting their everyday life, it might be good to talk to your GP or school nurse.

Find information and advice about how to help children with anxiety

Coughs and colds

It's fine to send your child to school with slight cough or common cold symptoms, such as a runny nose, sore throat or headache, as long as they're otherwise well and do not have a high temperature.

But if they have a high temperature, keep them off school until the temperature has gone.

Encourage your child to throw away any used tissues and to wash their hands regularly.

Chickenpox

If your child has chickenpox, keep them off school until all the spots have crusted over.

This is usually about 5 days after the spots first appeared.

Cold sores

There's no need to keep your child off school if they have a cold sore.

Encourage them not to touch the blister or kiss anyone while they have the cold sore, or to share things like cups and towels.

Conjunctivitis

You don't need to keep your child away from school if they have conjunctivitis, unless they are feeling very unwell.

Do get advice from your pharmacist. Encourage your child not to rub their eyes and to wash their hands regularly.

COVID-19

If your child has mild symptoms, such as a runny nose, sore throat, or slight cough, and feels well enough, they can go to school.

Your child should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if they have symptoms of COVID-19 and they either:

• have a high temperature
• do not feel well enough to go to school or do their normal activities

What to do if your child has tested positive

Your child is no longer required to do a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test if they have symptoms. But if your child has tested positive for COVID-19, they should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day they took the test.

Ear infection

If your child has an ear infection and a high temperature or severe earache, keep them off school until they're feeling better or their high temperature goes away.

Hand, foot and mouth disease

If your child has hand, foot and mouth disease but seems well enough to go to school, there's no need to keep them off.

Encourage your child to throw away any used tissues straight away and to wash their hands regularly.

Head lice and nits

There's no need to keep your child off school if they have head lice.

You can treat head lice and nits without seeing a GP.

Impetigo

If your child has impetigo, they'll need treatment from a pharmacist or GP, often with antibiotics.

Keep them off school until all the sores have crusted over and healed, or for 48 hours after they start antibiotic treatment.

Encourage your child to wash their hands regularly and not to share things like towels and cups with other children at school.

Measles

If your child has measles, they'll need to see a GP. Call the GP surgery before you go in, as measles can spread to others easily.

Keep your child off school for at least 4 days from when the rash first appears.

They should also avoid close contact with babies and anyone who is pregnant or has a weakened immune system.

Ringworm

If your child has ringworm, see your pharmacist unless it's on their scalp, in which case you should see a GP.

It's fine for your child to go to school once they have started treatment.

Scarlet fever

If your child has scarlet fever, they'll need treatment with antibiotics from a GP. Otherwise they'll be infectious for 2 to 3 weeks.

Your child can go back to school 24 hours after starting antibiotics.

Slapped cheek syndrome (fifth disease)

You don't need to keep your child off school if they have slapped cheek syndrome because, once the rash appears, they're no longer infectious.

But let the school or teacher know if you think your child has slapped cheek syndrome.

Sore throat

You can still send your child to school if they have a sore throat. But if they also have a high temperature, they should stay at home until it goes away.

A sore throat and a high temperature can be symptoms of tonsillitis.

Threadworms

You don't need to keep your child off school if they have threadworms.

Speak to your pharmacist, who can recommend a treatment.

Vomiting and diarrhoea

Children with diarrhoea or vomiting should stay away from school until they have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 2 days (48 hours).

School Telephone: 01949 860056

Lateness

The first few minutes of the school day are some of the most important. It's a lovely time when teachers welcome children, share what's happening throughout the day, answer questions and help everyone feel happy, settled and ready to learn. That morning meet and greet is especially valuable, giving children the reassurance of knowing exactly what to expect. Even arriving just a minute or two late can leave a child wondering whether they've missed something, and that little worry can sometimes follow them throughout the whole day. We know that mornings can be busy for families, but arriving on time makes such a difference to how children feel. The very best start to the school day is coming through our main school gate at 8:40am, ready to be welcomed by familiar faces and begin the day together.

The school day starts between 8.40 and 8.50am and children enter school from the playground.  If you arrive after this time you must enter school through the school office reception.  Please ensure that you accompany your child into school as you will be required to fill out documentation as to the reason for lateness. Children arriving before the register closes at 9.00am are marked as ‘L’, children arriving after the register has closed are marked as ‘U’, this then counts towards their absence percentage. 

As you may be aware, the law treats some persistent lateness in the same way as irregular attendance and parents may be prosecuted by the local authority if late arrival is not resolved.

Minutes late per day during the school year = Days worth of teaching lost in a year

5 mins= 3.4 days

10 mins = 6.9 days 

15 mins = 10.3 days 

20 mins = 13.8 days

30 mins = 20.7 days