Attendance

At Deptford Park, we know that good attendance helps children feel happy, confident and successful at school. Being in school every day and arriving on time gives children the best chance to learn, build friendships and make good progress.  

To support this, we closely monitor attendance using our school attendance system. The Headteacher, Class Teachers and Attendance Officer work together with families to help ensure every child attends school regularly and on time. 

Discover the benefits of good attendance and the difference it can make to your child’s future by clicking here.

Punctuality  

8.45am – Gate opens – Please drop your child off at the main gate. All children will go to their classrooms  

8.50am – Registers taken and learning begins  

Any children arriving after 8.50am will be marked as late. Please make sure your child is through the school gate at 8.45am, ready to start their learning in the classroom at 8.50am. 

Registers close at 9:20 am.  If your child arrives after 9.20am, this will be marked as a U code in the register.  

Parents and Carers’ Responsibilities 

Parents and carers are required to ensure that children of compulsory school age receive full-time education. This means that they are responsible for ensuring that children attend and stay at school. They are also responsible for informing the school of any absence on the first day of absence.  They should state the nature of the illness and when the child is expected to return to school.  Parents/Carers are responsible for ensuring that their children are ready to start school at 8.50am. 

What do I do if my child is absent for any reason? 

Parents are requested to report absence via the Arbor app or by calling the school office on the first day of absence. Absences can also be reported via email info@deptfordpark.lewisham.sch.uk. Please state your child’s name, class and short reason for absence.  We need to know why your child is not in school on the first day of absence to ensure that they are safe and to authorise the absence. 

If the school has had no explanation for the absence, we will telephone on the first day of absence asking the parent/carer to provide a reason. As safeguarding is our number one priority, if we cannot get hold of a parent, we will contact emergency contacts for an update and we may conduct a home visit.  

We will always follow up on any unexplained absences to establish the reason. If there is no explanation, the absence will be marked as unauthorised.  All unauthorised absences are recorded on your child’s annual report.   

The Headteacher and Attendance Officer meet regularly to monitor attendance and investigate when a child’s attendance falls below 96% and/or there are patterns of absence and lateness.  Punctuality is also monitored. Where there is cause for concern, we will contact parents to discuss the matter further and to offer support to improve a child’s attendance and/or punctuality.  

What do we do when we are concerned about a child’s absence or lateness? 

An initial letter of concern is sent to parents/carers inviting them to discuss the problem and to find ways to improve attendance and/or punctuality. 

If this is unsuccessful, the Attendance Officer will arrange a further meeting with parents/carers to discuss concerns and agree targets for improving their child’s attendance or lateness. The attendance will be closely monitored for a half term. 

If there is no improvement, a third letter will be sent inviting the parents to discuss attendance at a meeting with the Headteacher. Further targets will be set and monitored for a half term. 

The Local Authority’s Attendance team will become fully involved in supporting and monitoring the attendance and may consider a Fixed Penalty Notice and a fine if there is no improvement. 

What do I do if I need to take my child out of school in term time? 

Parents and carers are required to ensure that children of compulsory school age receive full-time education. This means that they are responsible forensuring that children attend and stay at school. 

Parents and carers are requested to make medical appointments outside of the school day, wherever possible. 

If it is unavoidable that you take your child out of school in term time, you will need to complete an Absence Request Form for Exceptional Circumstances.   This should be completed at least a month before the date of absence.  The Headteacher then decides based on the information in the table above as to whether the absence is authorised or unauthorised.   

Absence for holiday in term time 

Holidays in term time are not authorised as they are very disruptive to children’s education.   

Leave of absence during term time may be granted in the event of exceptional circumstances only.  Details of flights or travel arrangements and when they were booked may be required before an authorised absence is granted.  This does not include a planned trip to coincide with cheaper flight times during term time, for example, to visit a poorly relative.  

Should leave be taken without authorisation then consideration will be given to issuing a Fixed Penalty Notice in the sum of £80.00.  If the fine is not paid within 28 days the penalty increases to £160.00.  If is remains unpaid after a further 14 days, then court proceedings are commenced.