One of the ways in which Bearwood Primary School is committed to improving achievement is through ensuring good attendance and as such we monitor the attendance of all our pupils.
Research has shown that there is a strong link between attendance and achievement, therefore we work in partnership with parents/carers to ensure that every child has the opportunity to meet their full potential.
Poor attendance and punctuality could mean children are more likely to:
- fall behind in their school work
- find it difficult to make and keep friends
- be unhappy at school
- misbehave so others cannot see that they are finding the work difficult
- get into bad routines that can affect them getting or keeping a job later in life.
Every day at school really is so important. If your child misses a day off school they will miss out on important learning and will need to catch up when they return.
As a school we constantly try to improve our attendance and punctuality. This is made even easier for us with the help and support of the children, parents and carers.
Did you know?
- 10 minutes late to school each day = 33 hours lost in one year
- Your child being late disturbs the whole class from learning
- A 90% attendance rate in a school lifetime is equivalent to a whole year of school missed!
- Having good routines helps your child get into good patterns for the future
- Make sure your child understands why school is important
- Show your child that you are interested in what they have done at school
- Get everything ready the night before school
- Arrange appointments before or after school or during the holidays
School will endeavour to respond to your request within 5 working days. If your request for leave of absence is approved your child will be expected to collect and complete all missed work. Please note that taking your child away during the school term is detrimental to their educational progress.
Please be aware that if holidays are taken without approval, this information will be passed to our Education Welfare Officer. Taking an unauthorised holiday is a Criminal Offence and may result, depending on the circumstances of each case, in either a Penalty Notice being issued or Prosecution in the Magistrates Court.
A Penalty Notice may be issued without further warning. Payment of a Penalty Notice within 21 Days is £60, between 22 and 28 days is £120. Penalty Notices are issued to each parent, per child.
However, if a penalty notice is not paid then the Parents may be prosecuted in the Magistrates Court. In some cases, a Penalty notice will not be offered at all and the matter referred immediately for Prosecution.
In the Court the penalty is a fine of up to £1000 and a Criminal Record.
More information can be found on the Wokingham Borough Council website or from the Education Welfare Service.
Illness
If your child is unable to come to school because they are unwell, please contact the School Office on 0118 978 4628 or email admin@bearwood-pri.wokingham.sch.uk . If your child has sickness and/or diarrhea they should be kept at home for 48 hours after the last bout.
