Our St Elphin's Attendance Race track
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Every day counts
Days off school add up to lost learning
There are 365 days per year. There are 190 school days per year.
That leaves 175 days to spend on family time, visits, holidays, shopping, household jobs and appointments, other appointments.
We expect all of our children to have attendance of 95% or above.
Did you know? A pupil who has 80% attendance misses an average of one day a week; nearly 40 days in a year – approx 8 weeks of every year – that’s over 200 hours of learning missed!
That is the same as a year off by the time a child is in Year 5! Shocking!
If your child has to be absent from school, please make sure you contact the school office (01925) 635143 each day your child is absent from 8.00am onwards. If no reason is given your child's absence will be recorded as unauthorised. If your child must attend a medical appointment during the day, we ask that you provide evidence for the appointment and update us with any medical outcome you may receive.
Punctuality is important
Children who miss the start of the day miss out on a crucial ‘settling down’ period – a chance to catch up on news with friends, share stories with their teacher, find their belongings, hang up their coats, , change reading books and prepare for a day of learning – that is a lots of things.
Did you know?
If your child is just 5 minutes late every day – that adds up to over 3 days lost each year.
If your child is late by 15 minutes each day, that is the same as being absent for 2 weeks per year!
HOW SCHOOL HAVE BEEN WORKING TO IMPROVE ATTENDANCE:
1) We have designed our own school attendance HERO logo. HERO stands for Here, Every day, Ready and On time.
2) We have introduced a whole school attendance race track - each class has designed a car which moves around the track a certain number of spaces depending on the percentage attendance achieved each week. At the end of a half-term the winning class earns themself a sweet treat of some description and the race begins again!
3) Every morning or afternoon session a class can earn a letter from the words PERFECT ATTENDANCE as long as everybody is in. When the words are complete it earns the class extra moves around the board.
4) Individual children are targeted through a rewards based plan to improve their attendance
6) Our families are offered various practical support strategies to help improve attendance and punctuality.
7) Children who have 100% attendance for 1 term receive a BRONZE badge, a SILVER badge for achieving 100% attendance in two terms and a GOLD badge for achieveing 100% attendance across 3 terms in the same academic year. Certificates are also be issued at the end of the year for children with 100% attendance.
For further information about good attendance and punctuality, please see the following document:
https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/school-attendance-matters-parents-guide
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SUPPORT YOUR CHILD - TOP TIPS FOR BEING AN ATTENDANCE HERO
1) Make sure your child has enough sleep
2) Make sure your child has an alarm clock
3) Make sure your child has clothes ready the night before including any PE or swimming kit
4) Arrange dental and medical appointments outside of school hours wherever possible
5) Do not book holidays in term time - they will not be authorised.