Key information

At Layston, we want our children to feel safe, happy and enjoy coming to school.  Our attendance target is 96% but we are always aiming for 100%. Research suggests that missed sessions are directly linked to a drop in achievement; the greater the attendance, the greater the progress and achievement.

Good Attendance
Having high attendance will help to give your child the best possible start in life. This is why we believe it is so important to attend school every day.

• Learning is a progressive activity; each day’s lessons build upon those of the previous day(s).
• Lessons include discussions and hands on experiences which are missed by those who are absent.

Did you know that if a child’s attendance is at 90% that is equivalent to missing half a day of school each week? Having 90% attendance throughout 5 years at primary school is equal to missing half of an academic year! So 90% is not ideal.

What can parents/carers do to increase their child’s attendance?

• Talk regularly with your child about school and how they feel. They are more likely to attend if they feel supported and any anxieties they may have are listened to.
• Phone us as soon as possible to tell us why your child is absent and when you expect them to return. Putting the school number in your phone can save you some time.
• Only allow days at home for genuine illness.
• Avoid taking holidays or short breaks during term time.
• Know the routines of the school day to prepare your child effectively.
• Encourage punctuality – doors to classrooms are opened at 8:45am and are closed at 9.00am. Registers are taken at 8:45am. This allows registers to be called and for school to start promptly. Arrival after 9:10 am, unless there is a satisfactory explanation, is recorded as an unauthorised absence (late after registers close). The afternoon registers are open 1:00-1:10pm for YR-Y2 and 1:15-1:25pm for KS2, and again, unless there is a satisfactory explanation, lateness will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.
• Praise and reward good attendance.

Lateness matters too
Lateness both to school and to lessons is strongly discouraged so that valuable learning time is not missed. There is a clear link between attendance and attainment; the more time a pupil spends in school the more likely they are to improve their opportunity to fulfil their full potential.

What do I do if my child is going to be late?
We do appreciate that in certain circumstances, such as transport problems, lateness cannot be avoided.

• If your child is going to be late (i.e. after 9:00am) for any reason, including medical appointments, please telephone the school office prior to the appointment. This will enable us to keep our attendance registers accurate.
• Upon arrival, you must sign your child in at the office so that there is a record of his/her presence in the building. It is always better to come to school later than not at all, so please ring first so that we know if there has been an emergency.

Pick up time
Children should be collected promptly at the end of the school day. It causes children distress when they are left waiting at the office wondering where their parents are. If you are going to be late for any reason, please call the school office so that we can reassure your child. The children finish at: 3.15pm.

How we celebrate attendance in school

Weekly Attendance
At Layston, we celebrate attendance weekly in our celebration collective worship. The class with the highest weekly attendance wins the Layston School attendance award.(Note: Attendance period covers from a Friday through to a Thursday.)

Termly Attendance
We award termly attendance certificates to children at the end of every term.
Gold = 100% attendance
Silver = 98-99% attendance
Bronze = 97% attendance.