Attendance, Term dates & School hours.
EVERY MINUTE MATTERS!
We want our children in school on time, every day. Children need to attend regularly to take full advantage of the educational opportunities available to them. Research shows that attendance and punctuality are important factors in school success.
Our school day is 8:45am to 3:15pm which is 32.5 hours.
8:40am |
Gates open |
8:45am |
Start of the school day children. |
3:15pm |
End of the school day for all children. |
HOLIDAYS DURING TERM TIME
Look before you book!
The law does not give any entitlement to parents to take their child on holiday during term time. The headteacher is unable to authorise any holidays in term time. Parents can be fined by the Local Authority for taking their child on holiday during term time without consent from the school. You must obtain a form to request any holiday during term time from the school office where they will explain more about the process.
As a school, we fully appreciate the financial difficulties that some parents face when booking holidays, particularly during school holidays. However, all schools must have firm policies and stringent checks to ensure that there is a significant reduction in the number of absence during term time.
Click the files at the bottom of the page for school term and holiday dates.
Click here for future years’ school term and holiday dates from Cheshire West & Chester.
Parents can support regular school attendance by:
- Making sure their child arrives at school on time with all their resources
- Supporting and encouraging their child by attending parents’ evenings and other events
- Contacting the school to discuss any concerns regarding their child’s attendance
- Working in partnership with the school to resolve any issues that are impacting on their child’s attendance
- Making any medical appointments outside of school hours whenever possible
- Not taking children out of school for holidays in term time or for other unnecessary reasons
Persistent Absence and Unauthorised Absence
Did you know if your child arrives after the register has closed they will receive an unauthorised absence? A member of the school team may also come to your house if we cannot get in touch.
We will communicate concerns about poor attendance to parents and use an escalating approach including letters, meetings in school and/or a referral to the Education Welfare Team at Cheshire West and Chester.
Medical appointments
Parents/carers should avoid making routine medical appointments and dental appointments during the school day. In the majority of cases, appointments can be made outside of the school day/during the school holidays.
Where appointments have to be taken during the school day, only the time for the appointment and travel to and from will be classed as an authorised absence. Pupils are expected to return to school for the remainder of the day/attend school prior to the appointment.
Parents/ carers are asked to provide proof of appointment to the office.
Punctuality
It is important that pupils attend school on time so that they do not miss out on the beginning of each school day. We begin every day with phonics and reading – vital lessons. Children must attend on time to be given a present mark for the session.
If a pupil arrives late to school every day, their learning begins to suffer.