In order for children to develop a love of learning and achieve their best, we encourage all children to have high levels of attendance and punctuality. In promoting good punctuality and attendance we are also helping children to develop good habits and practices that will equip them for secondary school and their working lives as adults.

At Okehampton Primary School we monitor children’s attendance and liaise with our school Education Welfare Officer. We work closely with families with low attendance or where non-attendance follows a pattern. Children who are persistently late or absent soon fall behind with their learning. Children who are absent from school frequently develop large gaps in their learning  which will impact on their progress and their ability to meet age related learning expectations.

Rights and Responsibilities

The School:

• expects pupils to attend school regularly and to arrive in a ready to learn.
• will publish our attendance policy on our website.
• will give parents feedback on school and pupil attendance levels through newsletters and award certificates.
• will investigate all absenteeism.
•  will set a good example in matters of attendance and punctuality.
• will work closely with parents/carers should attendance/punctuality give cause for concern.
• will work with the Education Welfare Officer (EWO) to complete Annual Attendance Health Checks

Pupils:

• will ensure that they attend regularly and on time.
• will have individual records of attendance/punctuality acknowledged by the school.

Parents/carers are responsible for:

• ensuring their children attend school regularly, punctually and are properly dressed and are ready to learn.
• informing the school of the reason for any unplanned absence by phone call 01837 52866 (a message can be left on our answer phone), by email to admin@okehamptonprimary.org.uk  or personal visit on each day of absence, as soon as possible.
• submitting an Absence Request Form for all planned absences, including medical appointments. Where possible, dental appointments should be made outside of school hours. This must be completed in advance of any occasion that requires absence from school.
• ensuring the school always has at least 2 up to date contact numbers. 

Parental Request for Authorised Absence in Term Time

Parents should not expect, as a right, that the school will authorise absence in term time. Each application will be considered individually. The Pupil Registration Regulations 2013 have removed the right for parents to request holidays in term time, and for head teachers to grant them. Holidays within term time can only be authorised in exceptional circumstances.

Please read our Attendance Policy, which can be found on our Policies and Documents page, please follow the page link.