Attendance
Attendance is one of the biggest factors in determining individual children’s achievement, success and wellbeing at school, and therefore their future life chances.
Our School Day
Our school gates will be opened at 8:30 each morning by a member of the senior leadership team who will warmly greet all children, parents and families. Children can enter their class from 8:45 where registration will take place promptly.
The school day ends at 15:15 in the Foundation Stage and in Key Stage 1. The school day ends at 15:20 in Key Stage 2. Many children will attend our after school clubs and extra-curricular enrichment once they are up and running which will run from 15:15 to 16:00.
On a Monday Mr Healey will lead a whole school themed assembly, on a Thursday children will experience a singing or well-being assembly and there is a whole school celebration assembly every Friday. Assemblies provide an excellent opportunity for children to reflect on how our core values impact upon them personally, as well as share how our Orchard Grove attributes are positively influencing the choices they are making.
Timings of the School Day
8:45 - 8:55 - Registration and early morning work
8:55 - 10:30 - Learning session 1
10:30 - 10:45 - Break
10:45 - 12:00 - Learning session 2
12:00 - 1:00 - Lunch
1:00 - 3:15 - Learning session 3
3:15 - 4:00 - enrichment clubs
Total time per week in school: 32.5 hours
Attendance & Absence
There is strong evidence to show that those children whose attendance is 96% or higher not only do much better in their learning and make greater progress but they are also happier and more settled in school. However, as soon as it starts to drop below this figure, their absence begins to have a damaging effect across all areas of their school life – a damaging effect that increases as their attendance rate falls.
Poor attendance (below 96%) is one of the single biggest blocks to child achievement as they start to fall behind in their learning. Then when they return, they can find themselves struggling with the work and behind their peers which will often have a further negative impact – this time not only on their learning, but also their happiness and wellbeing. This is the case whether absence is due to term-time holidays, illnesses or truancy - not being present in school disadvantages children.
To find out more information about attendance at Orchard Grove Primary School, please click here.
Attendance
Attendance is formally recorded twice each day – in the morning and afternoon. It is important that children are ready to start school at 8.45am.
It is a legal requirement to take registers in a timely fashion and there are consequences for lateness. After registration closes, children will be marked as late. Pupils arriving after 9.30am will receive an unauthorised ‘U’ mark.
Wherever possible, medical appointments should be made out of school times. Evidence of medical appointments must be provided at all times.
Absence
It is your responsibility as a parent/carer to ensure that your child attends school. If they fail to attend, you are required to provide the school with “reasonable justification” for this (Education Act 1996) at the time of absence.
If you know in advance that you child will be away from school, please let us know as soon as you are able to. Also please advise us of any lateness or appointments.
If your child is unwell and not able to attend school, you should contact the school:
Phone: 01823 711014 or
Email: office@orchardgrove.bep.ac
Please include your child’s name, year group, reason for the absence and expected return date.
The school always follows up unexplained absences. If a child is absent from school for an event that has not been authorised, details are passed to the Educational Welfare Service who may impose a fixed penalty.
Work is not normally set for children who are away from school. Our priority is that they get well and return back to school as soon as they are able.
Authorised and Unauthorised Absence
Authorised and unauthorised absence
The law requires that all schools must now show the difference between authorised and unauthorised absence.
Authorised absence can be:
Sickness
Medical or dental appointments which cannot be arranged outside school hours
Days of religious observance
An exceptional circumstance which was unavoidable and a one-off incidence.
Please note however regular time off for illness will be challenged, requiring not only medical evidence but also medical guidance on how schools can best support and ‘manage’ those children in school. Saying a child is “unwell” will no longer be enough, parents will need to be specific as the school administrative staff will enquire further.
Unauthorised absence is:
Truancy
Staying at home to look after younger children or sick relatives
Going shopping or having hair cut
Any absence which the school has not been informed about, either by letter or telephone
Any family holiday in term time