School Attendance and Punctuality
Why is good attendance so important?
Guildford Grove Primary School seeks to ensure that all its pupils receive a full-time education which maximises opportunities for each individual to realise his/ her potential. Good attendance is a skill for life and attendance has an impact on a child’s whole school experience.
The school will always strive to provide a welcoming, caring environment whereby each member of the school community feels safe and secure. All school staff will work with pupils and their families to ensure each pupil attends school regularly and punctually.
Guildford Grove Primary aims to:
– Give attendance and punctuality a high priority
– Provide support, advice and guidance to families
– Celebrate good attendance
– Use sanctions sensitively and only when necessary
– Work in partnership with the Education Welfare to improve attendance
Legal responsibilities:
By law, all children of compulsory school age must receive a suitable full-time education. Once your child is registered at school, you are legally responsible for making sure they attend regularly. Our registers are checked weekly by our Education Welfare Officer who may contact families who are not fulfilling their legal obligation. In extreme cases this can lead to court proceedings.
Please also be aware that The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013, which became law on 1st September 2013, state that Headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless they are exceptional circumstances. The policy of Surrey County Council to which has been agreed, states that parents who take their child out of school for five days or more during term time without the authority of the Headteacher may be liable to receive a penalty notice. Penalty notices will be used by the Local Authority. More information about penalty notices is included on our Leave of Absence request form and attendance leaflet below: