Attendance and punctuality

At our school we promote good attendance to enable pupils to take full advantage of the educational opportunities we offer. Our Pastoral Officer monitors attendance regularly and works closely with families to support good attendance.

We ask parents to ensure that children arrive at school in time for registration each day.

Children should be collected promptly at 3:15pm, which is the end of the school day. If an unavoidable delay occurs parents need to contact the school as soon as possible.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD IS ABSENT FROM SCHOOL

Please phone on the first day of absence leaving your child’s name, class and reason for absence. This needs to be done every day that your child is absent from school. These messages may be left on the school’s answer phone, emailed to ipsadmin@irchester-school.net, or delivered in person.

The school office will contact parents by telephone if a message has not been left giving a reason for absence. Where the school office is unable to contact a parent, an email will be sent to all parents/carers asking them to contact school urgently.

MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS

If possible, please advise the school office beforehand if children have to attend a medical appointment during school hours. Please sign them in and out of school at the main office.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE DURING TERM TIME

Holidays taken during term time are classed as unauthorised absence as the school cannot authorise term time holidays. The school may legally authorise a request for leave where there are ‘exceptional circumstances’. The Request for Leave of Absence during Term Time form should be completed and presented to the school before the leave can be taken.

For more information please refer to the school attendance policy on this website.

The New Government National Framework for penalty notices is summarised here:

https://irchesterprimary.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/FPN-Framework.pdfFPN law changes