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Attendance

Why is attendance important?

Pupils need to attend school regularly to benefit from their education. Missing out on lessons leaves children vulnerable to falling behind. Children with poor attendance tend to achieve less in both primary and secondary school.” School attendance – Departmental advice (August 2013) 

Haxby Road Academy seeks to ensure that all its pupils receive a full-time education which maximises opportunities for each pupil to realise his/her true potential.  The school will strive to provide a welcoming, caring environment, whereby each member of the school community feels wanted and secure. All school staff will work with pupils and their families to ensure each pupil attends school regularly and punctually.

Regular attendance at school is essential to ensure uninterrupted progress and to enable our children to extend their potential. We expect all children on roll to attend every day, when the school is in session, as long as they are fit and healthy enough to do so. We believe that the most important factor in promoting good attendance is the development of positive attitudes towards school and learning.

Poor attendance can seriously affect your child’s:

  • attainment in school
  • relationships with other children and their ability to form a lasting friendship
  • confidence to attempt new work and work alongside others

The school will establish an effective system of incentives and rewards that acknowledges the efforts of pupils to improve their attendance and timekeeping and will challenge the behaviour of those pupils and parents who give low priority to attendance and punctuality. 

To meet these objectives at Haxby Road Academy we will establish an effective and efficient system of communication with pupils, parents and appropriate agencies to provide mutual information, advice and support. 

Punctuality 

Pupils can come into school from 8.40am and the school day starts promptly at 8.50 a.m. In our Early Years setting this is 8.30am. 

If a child arrives at school after 8.50 a.m. without prior arrangements having been agreed, he/she will be deemed late.  Registers close at 9.00 a.m. and arrival at school after this time, without prior approval or extenuating circumstances, will be recorded as an unauthorised absence. 

Pupils arriving at school after 8.50 a.m. must enter through the main gates and report to the school office to be signed in by an adult. Pupils leaving school for any reason must report to the office before they go so that we can ensure that they are appropriately chaperoned and signed out.  Registers are also taken when the children return to classes after lunch. Unexplained absences will be investigated by the attendance and wellbeing team.

School Day for Year 5 and Year 6

For Year 5 and 6 children, the school day is 8:40am until 4:30pm Monday to Thursday and 8:40am to 2pm on Friday. 

These are times established and adhered to since Ebor Academy Trust took over the running of our school in 2015 and are legally part of their school day. 

Enrichment has proved to be extremely beneficial to all of the children moving through their latter years at our school and into secondary school. The children have specialist teachers to deliver their music, PE, forest schools and Spanish during these times. 

What is expected of the pupils? 

  • To respect themselves and others
  • To do all they can to attend school regularly and punctually
  • To inform a trusted adult if they feel that they are being bullied
  • To encourage friendship and a sense of belonging
  • To be happy and encourage others to feel happy

What is expected of the Parents? 

  • To keep requests for their child to be absent to a minimum
  • To offer a reason, or medical proof, for any period of absence, preferably before the absence or on the first day of absence
  • To ensure that their child arrives at school on time, a reason should be offered for any lateness
  • To work closely with the attendance and wellbeing team to resolve any problems that may impede a child’s attendance
  • To take family holidays during school holiday periods and be aware that requests for holidays during term time will be refused except in special/exceptional circumstances.
  • To be aware of curriculum requirements and be especially vigilant with regards to attendance during important academic times such as SATS
  • To support their child and recognise their successes and achievements

ATTENDANCE MATTERS!

Leave of Absence Procedures 

As detailed in our Attendance Policy, and in line with DfE guidance, we do not authorise leave of absence during term other than when exceptional circumstances permit. If you wish to take your child out of school, during term time, it is important to discuss this with us as much in advance as possible so we can guide you through the process. 

Attendance Target

Our target for attendance this year is 97%.  Evidence shows that good attendance is a key factor in enabling children to reach their potential.  Our attendance improved in 2019, which was a great success. We need to continue to work together with our families to ensure our attendance can reach 97%. Together in partnership, we can do this. 

2018-2019: 96.38%

2019-2020: 95.73%

2020-2021– 91.38%

2021-2022 – 91.61%

Please see below for more information:

Haxby Road Attendance Leaflet for Parents

Attendance Policy – v1 May 2021