Westacre Middle School seeks to ensure that all its pupils receive a full-time education which maximises opportunities for each pupil to realise his/her true potential.  As a school we work to provide an environment where all pupils feel valued and welcome.

Parents and teachers share the responsibility for supporting and promoting excellent school attendance and punctuality for all.

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 School will establish an effective and efficient system of communication with pupils, parents and appropriate agencies to provide mutual information, advice and support. The routines children develop around attendance and punctuality at school are the same as the expectations of any future employer in the world of work. High attainment, confidence with peers and staff and future aspirations depend on good attendance. Regular attenders find school routines, school work and friendships easier to cope with.

Procedures

• There is an expectation that all children attend school daily on time unless there are exceptional circumstances.
• School monitors all absences.
• Class teachers mark the registers at 8.30 am and 1.05 pm
• There is an expectation that parents telephone the school before 9.00 am to explain any absence of their child.
• Parents are contacted where pupils have failed to arrive by 9.00 am and school have not received a reason for their absence.
• Should parents consistently fail to make contact to explain absences, school will invite parents in to discuss procedures as this could be a safeguarding concern.
• If absence due to illness becomes extended or frequent, written medical evidence may be requested in order to authorise absences.
• Whenever possible we ask parents to make all medical appointments after school. If an absence during school time is known in advance, for example dental/medical appointments prior notice should be given in writing.