Attendance

Every day of education and indeed every lesson matters. In the National Curriculum where there is built in progression, children who are persistently late or absent soon get behind with learning and then do not understand current lessons when they return.

The introduction to a lesson and to the school day is crucial to the child’s understanding of their own learning. Children who miss school frequently will undoubtedly have gaps in their learning which will impede their progress and future ability to engage in lessons. This in turn has a knock on effect for their ability to concentrate and for their behaviour.

Frequent absence has a profound and cumulative effect on achievement.

If your child is unable to attend school due to illness or other circumstances, please contact the office before 8.30am. If we have not heard from you by 9.30am we will contact you directly.

If your child is likely to be absent from school due to illness for a long period of time, please inform us. We will be happy to discuss any support needed to ensure they keep up to date with what is taking place in school. On your child’s return following an absence we require a short note outlining the reason for the absence for our records, and a doctor’s certificate if the absence was for a period longer than five days.

The register is taken promptly each morning; any child not arriving by 8:50am must enter by the office, as the gates will be closed. Persistent lateness is taken very seriously and has a very disruptive impact on children’s education. The school will work with the Brent Education Welfare Officer to address persistent lateness as well as absence from school.