A child's time in school is very important as it impacts upon the following:

• their learning
• their friendships
• their self-esteem and confidence

it is, therefore, vital that every child attends school every day. Our attendance target is 96% for the coming year. We really want to meet this.

If your child has only 90% attendance it means they miss:

• one half day each week;
• nearly four weeks each school year;
• over one school year in a school career.

At Argyle, we monitor the attendance of every child in the school.  As well as supporting those with the worst attendance (the persistently absent - or those with less than 90% attendance), we are focussing on those families who allow occasional days of absence - absences that are avoidable. Children should only be kept at home when they are genuinely unwell. 

If your child is not able to attend school, we ask you to phone the school as soon as possible on the first day of absence to let us know why they won't be in.

At the end of each term, children with at least 96% attendance receive a certificate. At the end of the year, all children with 100% attendance for the year receive a prize.

Punctuality

Timekeeping is also important in the education of your child. If your child is persistently late they are missing out on important learning opportunities at the start of the school day and are disrupting the smooth education of others. Lateness beyond 9.15 am becomes an unauthorised absence.

All children should be in their line at 8.45am. Please aim to be in the playground at 8.40am or, if mornings are difficult, remember that you can bring your child to our free breakfast club from 8.00 am.

Extended Leave

The Headteacher does not have the authority to authorise absences for the purpose of taking a family holiday in term time except in exceptional circumstances. We therefore ask parents and carers NOT to book holidays during term time. If there are exceptional reasons why your child needs to be absent from school, you need to make your request in writing to the Headteacher stating the dates and the exceptional reasons for the absence. You may be asked to provide evidence of the emergency. If families take unauthorised leave during term time, it is likely that they will be referred to the local authority. A penalty notice may be issued.