Attendance & Punctuality

At Stocksbridge Junior School, we want all of our children to get the best education and develop healthy behaviours for life.

 

Regular attendance and good punctuality are two of these behaviours. For this reason, our expectation is that all children will be in attendance 100% of the time and children are in good time for school daily.

 

 

Why does attendance and punctuality matter ?

​Regular school attendance and punctuality is an important part of giving children the best possible start in life. Students who miss school (either through absence or lateness) can frequently fall behind with their work, their attainment and progress being negatively impacted. Absence and lateness can also impact negatively on a child’s socially and emotionally development. It is clear that students who attend school regularly achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance.

You can read more in our attendance leaflet that can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.

School Timings

Beginning of that day –

Children may arrive at school from 8:40. Registration begins at 8.50am and is submitted to the office at 9.00am.

Registers are completed again after lunch for all classes and close 5 minutes after lunchtime ends.

A pupil that arrives late for register (between 9.00am and 9.20am) will be marked late (‘L’ recorded in the register). A pupil arriving late after register closes (after 9.20am) will be marked as late (‘U’ recorded in the register.) ‘U’ registration codes indicate and unauthorised absence.

End of the day

Days end for each year group as follows :

  • Y3/4 finish school at 3:10pm,
  • Y5/6 finish school at 3:05pm.

Please offer other community members space whilst waiting for children to exit school. Meeting your child at a location away from the school gate ensures that the area around the gate does not become overcrowded.

What do we expect of parents and carers?

The requirement for children to attend school is set out in law. We require all of our parents and carers to ensure that their children attend school daily and are on time.

It is clear that children alone cannot ensure their regular and punctual attendance at school. Parents and carers are therefore encouraged to take an active interest in the work of the school and to build and support their children’s enthusiasm for attending school.

We ask that if children are to be absent from school, parents and carers should :

  • inform the school in person, in writing or by telephone, as soon as practicably possible, with reasons for the absence.
  • make routine appointments (e.g. medical, dental) outside of school time.
  • ensure children are at school before and after medical appointments (if appointments cannot be avoided during the school day). 
  • not take their children on holiday during term time.
  • work in partnership with school to positively impact on any attendance difficulties that may arise.

In some cases, where attendance is a concern, parents and carers may be required to provide medical evidence in order for school to authorize the absence.

Sheffield City Council offer advice at

https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/schools-childcare/attendance-guidance-parents

 

Attendance and Covid 19

At Stocksbridge Junior School, we are working hard to ensure that our children are at school as much as possible in order that they can achieve of their best.

As such, it is important that we are clear about the current guidance for Covid19 absence in order that we minimise any time off school for our children if they are suffering from Covid related symptoms or have a positive test result.

 

The NHS gives clear guidance for adults and children at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/people-with-symptoms-of-a-respiratory-infection-including-covid-19#Children

 

The guidance states is outlined below :

 

Children and young people aged 18 years and under who have a positive test result

It is not recommended that children and young people are tested for COVID-19 unless directed to by a health professional.

If a child or young person has a positive COVID-19 test result they should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day they took the test, if they can.

After 3 days, if they feel well and do not have a high temperature, the risk of passing the infection on to others is much lower. This is because children and young people tend to be infectious to other people for less time than adults.

Children and young people who usually go to school, college or childcare and who live with someone who has a positive COVID-19 test result should continue to attend as normal.

 

When children and young people with symptoms (with no positive test) should stay at home and when they can return to education

Children and young people with mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, or slight cough, who are otherwise well, can continue to attend their education setting.

Children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people, where they can. They can go back to school, college or childcare, and resume normal activities when they no longer have a high temperature and they are well enough to attend.

 

Please find the attached useful NHS information regarding how the spread Covid19 may be reduced. Living_Safely_with_Respiratory_Illnesses

 

If you have any questions at all, please consult the NHS website for advice or call our school office.

What do we expect of our children?

We require our pupils to work hard to attend daily, to be on time for lessons and be ready to learn.

How do we monitor attendance?

We monitor our children’s attendance at all times and we categorize attendance as follows :

Excellent

Your child’s attendance is 100%

As well as being an excellent attender, your child will almost certainly achieve the best outcomes for their ability and in later life.

Good

Your child’s attendance is 98% – 99%

Your child’s attendance is good and they are likely to achieve their learning targets. This will give them the skills they need for the next phase of their education.

Expected Your child’s attendance is as expected at 97% and has reached the school’s target which is set to ensure that learning is supported.
Needs to Improve

Your child’s attendance is 93% – 96%.

Your child’s attendance is in need of improvement. It is below the school target of 97%.  Your child is missing learning and in danger of falling behind.

Poor and Causing  Serious Concern

Your child’s attendance is 91%-92%

Your child’s attendance is poor and causing concern. They are in danger of becoming persistently absent and are missing a significant amount of learning. You may receive a letters to advise of a period of monitoring and asking for your support in this matter. Your child is missing so much time from school that it will be difficult for them to keep in touch with lessons and learning.

Very Poor and      Causing Serious    Concern

Your child’s attendance is 90% or below and regarded as persistently absent. This is very poor attendance and of great concern. There is a danger of Local Authority action eg a fixed penalty fine or further legal prosecution if attendance does not improve.

Your child is missing so much time from school that it will be exceptionally difficult for them to keep in touch with lessons and learning.

 

If attendance or punctuality becomes a concern, parents and carers may be requested to a discussion where support for the improvement of attendance or punctuality can be discussed. Discussions will involve school staff and may also involve our Education Welfare Officer, Local Authority Attendance Link or other appropriate professionals depending on the nature and level of concern.

How do we celebrate great attendance?

Great attendance is celebrated in many ways :

Verbal praise – on a daily basis.

Vouchers – Each term, children whose attendance is 97% and above are rewarded with a voucher for a free swimming or skating session courtesy of Sheffield International Venues (SIV).

Piggy Banks – Each class has an attendance piggy bank which they have the chance to add to every week.

£10 for 100% class attendance  –   £5 for 99% class attendance  – £2 for 98% class attendance

Once a class have accumulated sufficient funds, they can spend their earnings on a treat!

 

Certificates – Children achieving 100% attendance are presented with certificates each term.

What do I do if my child needs to take leave during term time?

The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 Amendments make clear that Head Teachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Parents or carers should complete a term time leave request form and submit to the school at least 20 days in advance of any proposed leave. Forms may be collected from our school office or downloaded below. You may be required to attend a meeting at school to discuss any application for term time leave.

Request for Exceptional Term Time Leave

Headteachers have the discretion to grant leave, but they should only do so in exceptional circumstances. If a headteacher grants a leave request, it will be for them to determine the length of time that the child can be away from school. This leave is unlikely, however, to be granted for the purposes of a family holiday.

Parents and carers can be fined for taking their child on holiday during term time without consent from the school. Government guidance states –

The current law does not give any entitlement to parents to take their child on holiday during term time.  Any application for leave must be in exceptional circumstances and the head teacher must be satisfied that the circumstances warrant the granting of leave.

Parents can be fined for taking their child on holiday, or for any other period of leave taken lasting five days or more taken during term time without consent from school.  Fines may be charged at £60 per parent and this can increase if unpaid.

Please note that any unauthorised absence from school during the academic year (amounting to five days unauthorised absence or more) may result in the issuing of a fine from Sheffield City Council. 

Punctuality

At Stocksbridge, we expect punctuality.

Our expectation is that all children will be present on time and ready to begin the day.

The school gates open at 8.40am to allow children to enter the school grounds in good time for registration. Adult supervision is in place from 8.40am.

Registration begins at 8.50am. Registration will close at 9.00am.

All children arriving after 9.00am are considered late. Any arrivals after 9.20am will be marked as an unauthorised absence.

Being punctual allows children to make a good and settled start to the day so that they can engage in and enjoy their learning.

If your child is to be late, we ask that you do not allow them to walk into school alone but ensure that you deliver them to Reception so that you know they are safe and have been handed over to a staff member. This is to ensure your child’s safeguarding. This is also to ensure that we have reliable records of the reasons for lateness to school. It may be felt necessary for a call to be made to parents or carers should a child arrive late and alone to establish the reason for lateness.

We monitor punctuality at all times and contact parents and carers for their support where punctuality becomes a concern.

Support with attendance and punctuality difficulties

As a school, we are committed to supporting excellent attendance and punctuality.

Where attendance or punctuality patterns are reducing, we may offer support.

We meet with our Education Welfare Officer, each half term to review the attendance and punctuality of our children and to identify where there are concerns.

 

Where a child’s attendance is nearing or falls below the school target of 92%, we feel it is important to inform parents or carers, even though there may be a legitimate reason for a child’s absence from school. We ask for parent and carer support in all of these cases in order to improve patterns of attendance. Parents and Carers will be promptly informed of any concerns and pathways to improving attendance or punctuality will be discussed and agreed.

If an agreed pathway to improvement is unsuccessful and a child’s absence or lateness continue to rise, school will consider involving our Education Welfare Officer or other outside agencies to formalise and enhance the challenge and support offered. Consideration of such cases may involve discussion with Local Authority colleagues.

Where attendance issues persist, parents risk the possibility of a local authority fine and or legal enforcement.

We understand that it can be very tricky to get your child to school on time in the morning occasionally.

 

Help is always at hand – If your child’s attendance or punctuality is a difficulty, please do not hesitate to call us or come and talk to us in school. You might want to contact our Education Welfare Officer, Mr Dale Edwardes, on 07885972039 if you need any support or advice. 

School Application and Transfer

School Application

You can apply for a school place for you child using the following link – for Reception, Junior Schools (Y3) and Secondary Schools (Y7)

https://ems.sheffield.gov.uk/CitizenPortal/e

 

Please also see the Sheffield’s guide to school application for parents and carers here :

Parents Guide Application

 

 

School Transfer

If you want to apply for a school place outside normal school entry points (as outlined above), you can apply for a transfer to another school.

Any parent or carer wishing to apply for a transfer must obtain a ‘Common Transfer Form’ from their current school. You can apply for up to three schools of your choice.

You must complete the parent and carer section of the form and your child’s current school must complete Section 2 of the form and send the application to the Admissions Team by email or by post.

It is extremely important that your child does not miss any learning as a result of a school transfer. On leaving one school, children should start the newly allocated school immediately. Where possible, this should be the next available school day.

The Admissions Team are responsible for managing the transfer application. They aim to inform parents or carers of the decision for the school you have applied within 15 school days and the reason for that decision. If it is not possible to offer a place at any of your preferred schools, they will give you advice on the statutory appeal process. Information can also be found here :

https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/schools-childcare/catchment-areas-over-subscribed-schools

 

If your child has an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan

Most children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) attend a mainstream school. Parents and Carers should apply through the admissions process described above.

Parent or carers can only apply for a special school or integrated resource if your child has an EHC Plan.

If this is the case, your child’s school place will be arranged by our SEND Statutory Assessment and Review Service (SENDSARS), not through the general admission process.

SENDSARS will contact you when it is time to apply to discuss your preferred education setting. They will do this at key transition points such as from nursery to infant; infant to junior; junior to secondary; and secondary to Post 16.

If you would like your child to move to a different school mid-year or outside standard admission times, you should ask for an emergency review of their EHC Plan. You can ask your child’s current school or SENDSARS for this to start the transfer process. This transfer process will then be discussed.

 

New to Sheffield ?

If you are new to Sheffield and would like a school place please call the Children Missing Education Team on 0114 273 6462 or email ed-missingchildren@sheffield.gov.uk.

You can make an appointment to complete an application to apply for a school place.

 

Contact :

The Admission Team are available to support you using the contact details that follow :

Email – ed-admissions@sheffield.gov.uk

Telephone – 0114 273 5766

Our Attendance Policy is available from the Chorus Trust website at www.chorustrust.org/policies.

Stocksbridge Junior School Attendance and Absence Data

2019/20

  • Attendance 97.4% 97.4%
  • Authorised Absence 3.0% 3.0%
  • Unauthorised Absence 1.0% 1.0%
  • Persistent Absence 9.4% 9.4%

2021/22

  • Attendance 95.0% 95.0%
  • Authorised Absence 4.1% 4.1%
  • Unauthorised Absence 1.0% 1.0%
  • Persistent Absence 10.8% 10.8%

2020/21

  • Attendance 96.8% 96.8%
  • Authorised Absence 2.6% 2.6%
  • Unauthorised Absence 0.5% 0.5%
  • Persistent Absence 8.2% 8.2%

2022/23

  • Attendance 94.9% 94.9%
  • Authorised Absence 3.7% 3.7%
  • Unauthorised Absence 1.4% 1.4%
  • Persistent Absence 12.4% 12.4%