At Beckfoot Nessfield, we recognise the clear relationship between good attendance and academic achievement. We aim to ensure all children have 97% or better attendance. We work relentlessly to ensure children are in school and work in partnership with families and outside agencies to identify and remove any obstacles that may hinder attendance.
Our Expectations
- Students will attend school every day
- Students will be on time to school and their lessons
- Students will always be prepared for school by having enough sleep, wearing the correct uniform, and having the right equipment
Students meeting these expectations will achieve well, be protected from risk of harm, and secure and maintain positive friendships with their peers at school.
Attendance and Punctuality Policy
Key contacts
Attendance is everyone’s business, and all members of our staff understand they they have a role to play in supporting good attendance. To learn more about our key contacts roles and responsibilities, please view our local attendance protocol.
- Bobbie Disney – Senior Attendance Officer
- Linda Hanson – Headteacher
What do I do if my child is not well enough to come to school?
If your child is absent from school, you must telephone or message the school office on (01535 665628) before 8.30 am every day to provide a reason If we receive no confirmation of the reason, you will receive a phone call home from the school office. If we receive no response to telephone calls or messages a home visit may be carried out.
If your child is absent for more than 3 days, you will receive a home visit to see if any support is required. We monitor attendance daily and weekly. If we are concerned that your child’s attendance is dropping, we will arrange to check in with you. If your child’s attendance drops below 90%, then your child will be out on the persistent absentee list, and further support will be put in place. A home visit by the attendance team can be conducted at any point during a child’s absence.
Medical and dental appointments
Medical and dental appointments should be made before or after school wherever possible, however, if an appointment is required during school hours, school should be made aware in advance and their must be provision of some evidence to authorise the absence.
Holidays in term time
Holidays in term times will not be authorised by Beckfoot Nessfield and could lead to penalty notices and fines being issued. These will be issued to the parent/carer liable for the attendance offence.
Punctuality
Gates open at 8.15am and close at 8.45am. School begins at 8.30am when the register is taken. If your child arrives after registration they will receive a late mark.
Our learning starts as soon as the children step into the classroom. The teacher explains the timetable for the day and goes through the lunch menu. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday we have assemblies at 8.45am. On a Thursday the children have a PHSE lesson instead of an assembly. We understand that sometimes children might be late for unforeseen circumstances, you will always receive a friendly welcome at the office if you are late. Please let us know if you think you are going to be late.
When children are regularly late, they can feel embarrassed walking into a classroom that has already begun learning and they can feel upset or distressed if this is happening regularly. Please contact the school if you are struggling to get here on time.
Recognising good attendance at Beckfoot Nessfield
- Awarding 10 housepoints weekly to every child who has attended all week on time
- Spotlight attendance weeks for houses with housepoint prizes
- Celebrating with families when attendance hits the target of 96% +
- 100% Attendance Achievement badges on Epraise for children who have 100% each half term
- Target Met attendance badges on Epraise for children who have met their 97% attendance target each half term
We believe that all students are more likely to attend school regularly if the curriculum is engaging and personalised to meet their needs, and if they have targets and rewards to work towards.
How will we support you?
- We will build close and productive relationships with families to ensure that any attendance issues can be tackled and any barriers to attendance are removed.
- Creating intervention or reintegration plans in partnership with our pupils and their parents/carers.
- Encourage good attendance by making our classrooms and school a place where all pupils can and want to be.