Bishopton RedmarshallAttendance
Working Together to Improve School Attendance
We work together with families to remove barriers to attendance and safeguard pupils.
At the heart of our vision is our commitment to ensure our school is a place where children and young people develop and thrive academically, socially, culturally and spiritually. The drive for excellence and effectiveness in our school is paramount.
We believe that in order to facilitate teaching and learning, good attendance is essential. Pupils cannot achieve their full potential if they do not regularly attend school.
An essential element of working with families is promoting punctuality too.
Lateness to school
The school gates open at 08:40
Teaching begins at 08:45
Registers are marked by 08:55
Children will receive a late mark if they are not in school by that time (L code).
Registers close by 09:15
If your child arrives after this time, they will receive a mark which shows they are in school but in accordance with regulations it will be recorded as an unauthorised absence (U code).
Lateness affects your child and the other children's learning and routines. If you are 5 minutes late each day, this adds up to over 3 days lost each year! If you are 15 minutes late each day, this is the same as being absent for 2 weeks a year!
Our school has a minimum target of 96% attendance.
Look out for our Friday newsletter to see the latest attendance class winners.
Is my child too ill for school?
It can be tricky deciding whether or not to keep your child off school, nursery or playgroup when they're unwell.
It's fine to send your child to school with a minor cough or common cold. But if they have a fever, keep them off school until the fever goes.
Click this link to more NHS guidance to help you decide whether to send your child to school.
How do we keep you informed about your child's attendance?
- Friday newsletters detail class attendance
- Discussion with Mrs. Raine when reporting illness absence
- Letters home at the end of each half-term detailing individual attendance
- Attendance meeting with Mr. Bull/Mrs. Raine
Please find attached letter from the trust regarding your parental/carer Attendance responsibility and expectations.
dndlt attendance letter 1 .pdf
Please read carefully and note the changes from 19 August 2024 (with links to the updated DfE guidance). This letter applies to all children in school (R to Y6) and details your responsibility concerning attendance and punctuality at school.
Darlington Borough Council's Attendance Guidance
Please click this link to find Darlington Borough Council's Attendance Guidance
This guidance includes links to Early Help Assessment and the Penalty Code of Conduct:
Early Help Assessment
All families can go through difficult times and may need some support. Early Help is about a conversation to work out how to stop small problems turning into bigger problems.
DBCs Penalty Code of Conduct outlines the regulations and procedures for issuing penalty notices (fines) to each parent who fails to ensure their children’s regular attendance at school.
Children's Commission
The Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, promotes and protects the rights of children, especially the most vulnerable, and advocates for their views and interests.
Please click this link to find out more information on how to support your child in different areas.
Members of the Attendance Action Alliance have worked with the Department for Education to develop this short guide below which helps parents understand how they can work with their school and local authority to support their children to attend school and get the right support.
aaa guide for parents on school attendance 19th aug version.pdf