Attendance at Anson

We are all in this together to raise attendance and raise attainment

We know that children need to be in school not only to reach their academic potential but also for their well-being and safety.  Our ethos is to develop happy, confident and creative children and to achieve this, we need to maintain that they are in school, on time every day possible.  Striving towards 100% attendance is vital in ensuring that our pupils are never held back from achieving great things, no matter what their circumstances.

Attend Today: Achieve Tomorrow!

Our Objectives:

• To achieve a minimum of 97% attendance
• To promote good attendance and punctuality at a young age – from the foundation up
• To reduce persistent absence through illness
• To eliminate unauthorised term-time leave – especially around holiday periods

Our Expectations:

Holidays and Leave of Absence

This academic year we will be working closely with the local authority to reduce absences in our school.  Leave of absence or holidays in term time WILL NOT be authorised unless there are exceptional circumstances in line with the regulations issued by the Department for Education.  If parents/guardians decide to take their child out of school during term time they are at serious risk of a fixed penalty notice being issued.

Reporting your child absent from school

Although we strive for good attendance for all children, we understand that children can be unwell. If your child has a cold or minor ailment, please send them in to school. Help us to manage any asthma concerns by making sure your chid has the correct inhaler at school.  When there is an unexpected or unplanned absence, it is your responsibility to report your child’s absence. Please telephone the school on the day and every day of your child’s absence. This helps carry out our safeguarding obligations as the school must know the whereabouts of every child. Any unexplained absence will be marked as unauthorised.  Any 5 days of unauthorised absence over a 10-week period, will trigger an investigation.

The school office opens at 8.30 am. Please telephone 020 8452 8552.  Alternatively, you can e-mail the school using parents@anson.brent.sch.uk giving the reason for your child’s absence.

Punctuality

When pupils arrive late for school, there are many consequences:

It can make them feel self-conscious walking into class when all of their peers are already settled. They miss out on essential instructions given at the beginning of the lesson.  This can significantly reduce achievement, regardless of academic ability. Arriving 5 minutes late each day adds up to missing 3 entire days of school by the end of the year.

 Please support your child to develop lifelong habits of good attendance and punctuality to allow them to achieve their full potential.

Medical Appointments

Please avoid making dental/medical appointments during the school day.  If an appointment is absolutely necessary, please produce your appointment card to the school office as evidence for the absence.

Rewards for Good Attendance

Class certificates are awarded for Best Attendance, Most Improved Attendance and On-Track Attendance and the class with the Best Attendance gets to keep Annie the Attendance Bear for the week! Classes with 100% are rewarded with a game of their choice.

At the end of each term, any children with 100% attendance are awarded either a Bronze Annie keyring (1 Term), a Silver Annie (2 Terms) or a Gold Annie (3 Terms).  At the end of the academic year, those children that have received a Gold Annie, also enter into a draw to win a special prize!