Attendance

At Fordham All Saints Primary School, we encourage every pupil to strive for full attendance. We hold high expectations for attendance and ask that children attend school every day it is open, unless they are genuinely unwell. Regular attendance is essential for pupils to access the full breadth of education they deserve and to flourish both academically and personally.

We recognise that attending school regularly can be more challenging for some pupils. That’s why we’re committed to working in partnership with families, carers, and relevant agencies to identify and remove any barriers that may affect attendance. Pupils with medical needs or other circumstances that impact their ability to attend will be supported fully, including collaboration with health professionals or external services when needed.

Creating a safe, and welcoming school environment where every child feels valued, included, and truly belongs is central to our ethos at Fordham All Saints Primary School. When children feel secure and connected to their school community, they are empowered to grow, achieve, and flourish.

Why is attending school regularly so important?

Regular attendance is essential because it helps children build strong learning habits and develop a sense of belonging. When children attend school consistently, they feel a greater sense of belonging and are more likely to flourish both academically and socially and have a positive impact on their well-being.

The school opens at 8:40am and registration closes at 8:50am. Pupils who arrive after 8:50am will be recorded as late. Pupils arriving after 9am will be marked as an unauthorised absence unless it is for a medical appointment or a reason is provided which can be authorised by the Head of School.

 If your child is unable to attend school due to medical reason or illness, please contact the main office before the start of the school day (08:40am) and leave a message on the answer phone 01206 240251. Please give your child’s name, class and a detailed reason for the absence. If we do not hear from you before 0 9:30am, we will contact you to gain a reason for the absence.

How do we reward good AND improving attendance?                   

During our weekly celebration’s assemblies, we celebrate the class with the highest attendance and whole school attendance for the week. This is shared on our School Notice board and with our School community via Newsletters and Class Dojo. At the end of each term, we reward certificates to pupils who have met our target of 96% and 100%.

 At Fordham All Saints Primary School, we also recognise and celebrate pupils who have made a noticeable effort to improve their attendance, even if they haven’t yet reached 100%. Their progress is acknowledged through personalised praise, such as a quiet word of encouragement, a message home via Class Dojo, or a letter. We are committed to recognising the pupils and families who are working hard to build a sense of pride in attending school every day.

Absent Requests

 There is no entitlement to parents to take their child out of school during term time; however, you may apply to the school for leave of absence if you believe there are exceptional circumstances. You will need to complete a Leave of Absence application form. A form can be found below or obtained from the School Office. 

 As from 1st September 2013, the Education (Pupil Registration, England) Regulations 2013 amended Regulation 7 to prohibit the Headteacher of a maintained school from granting leave of absence to a pupil, except where an advance application has been made by the parent with whom the pupil normally resides, and the Headteacher considers that there are exceptional circumstances relating to the application. Parents/carers need to be aware that due to these regulations, most absence requests will go unauthorised.

Unauthorised Absence

 An absence will be classified as unauthorised if your child is not in school and the absence has not been approved by the school. While parents and carers may provide reasons for a child’s absence, it is ultimately the school’s responsibility to determine whether the absence is authorised.

Examples of unauthorised absences include:

• Absences that are not explained or lack sufficient justification
• Arriving at school after the register has closed
• Time taken off for shopping, birthdays or day trips
• Taking extended weekends or holidays during term time without prior, exceptional approval from the school
• Extending a period of authorised absence without agreement. Any additional days will be considered unauthorised

Please be aware that unauthorised absences may lead to legal action, including the issuance of penalty notices or prosecution. According to the latest guidance from Essex County Council, a fixed penalty notice may be issued if a child accrues 10 sessions (equivalent to 5 full school days) of unauthorised absence within a 10-week period. Should a further 10 unauthorised sessions occur in the following 10 weeks, an additional penalty notice may be issued.

Support for School Attendance

At Fordham All Saints Primary School, we work closely with families to help every child attend regularly and feel happy and safe at school. Following Essex County Council’s guidance, we follow a Support First approach.  This means we’ll always try to understand any challenges you’re facing and offer help early. We’ll keep in touch with you, celebrate good attendance, and talk with you if we notice any patterns that might need attention. If needed, we can also work with other services to make sure your child gets the right support. Our aim is to work together with you to remove any barriers to attendance, so your child can enjoy learning and flourish. Formal steps like penalty notices are only used when all other support options have been tried.

For pupils with medical conditions or other circumstances that may at times prevent regular attendance we will fully support each pupil to be able to attend as much as possible. Our school will use an individual health plan and will work alongside other relevant professionals such as health colleagues, and yourselves, to best support this.

Please contact Mrs Clemments (SENDCo) or Mrs Dale (Head of School) in these events but please also make the school office aware so that the correct absence codes can be used.

Below is a list of Key Contacts for Attendance support at our School. Please contact the school office on admin@allsaints-fordham.essex.sch.uk or 01206 240251