PARKLANDS JUNIOR SCHOOL

Havering Road, Romford, Essex RM1 4QX

Tel: 01708 743404 Fax: 01708 742184

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Headteacher: Mrs Julie Wilson Deputy Headteacher: Mr Scott Stevens

3rd November 2015

Important - Attendance

Dear Parents/Guardians

We hope that all our families had an enjoyable half-term break, and now that our Year 3 pupils are settled into the school, we feel this would be a good time for some reminders of the school rules about attendance and punctuality.

Good attendance is absolutely crucial to your child making good progress in their education.

School has many strategies and initiatives to promote learning with many fantastic and engaging lessons being taught on a daily basis, but all of our efforts become pointless if your child is not in school to access them. Similarly, when children miss school, they become out-of-step with the lessons being taught and find learning twice as hard when they return.

Our school policy on attendance has been developed to promote the best attendance from pupils and the following rules apply:

  • School should always be notified on the first day of any absence, with the reason for the absence clearly explained. Please telephone before 9.30am whenever possible. We need parents to contact us promptly, as an absence from school could be a safeguarding or truanting issue.
  • If your child is absent for longer than 4 days, your child should see a doctor and we will ask to see evidence that this has happened.
  • Family holidays should be taken during the school holiday periods, and holidays or trips of a non-urgent nature, taken during term time, cannot be authorised.
  • School does not authorise leave in term time for auditions or performances of any kind.
  • Parents should book dental, medical and optician appointments outside of school hours, wherever possible. School will need to see appointment cards, or hospital letters for any appointments during school time. Please show the appointment card at reception when you collect or return your child.
  • Pupils should arrive at school by 8.55am promptly. The parents of any child who is repeatedly late, will be contacted by school in the first instance, and if there is no improvement, by the Education Welfare Service.

Please note that we will be holding a “Late Gate” initiative next week. This is where members of staff are outside school to speak with the parents of any pupils arriving after 8.55am, in an attempt to establish the issues around the lateness of certain pupils.

Parklands Junior attendance rules are in line with both government and Education Welfare Service guidelines regarding school attendance and the health and safety of pupils at school, and your co-operation with our policy is very much appreciated.

Yours sincerely

Mrs J Wilson

Head Teacher