Attendance | Goldsmith Primary Academy

Importance of Regular School Attendance

Regular school attendance is crucial for your child’s development and success. Here’s why:

Building Positive Habits:

Early Routine: Establishing a regular attendance routine from the first years of school helps your child develop lifelong habits.
Familiarity: Consistent attendance allows your child to get to know their teacher, classmates, and other families, creating a supportive school community.

Benefits of Regular Attendance:

Sense of Belonging: Regular attendance helps children feel connected to their school and fosters a sense of belonging.
Future Success: Attending school regularly supports future educational opportunities and helps prepare your child for secondary school.
Skill Development: School provides a platform for learning new skills, gaining confidence, and making informed decisions.
Social Interaction: It offers opportunities to play with friends, participate in team activities, and engage in personal growth.
Confidence and Growth: Regular school attendance contributes to building confidence, personal growth, and understanding of oneself.

By being involved in your child’s learning and ensuring they attend school every day, you support their journey toward a successful and fulfilling education.

Why Attendance Matters:

Long-Term Impact: Attendance habits established early in a child’s school life often continue throughout their education. Regular absences make it harder for students to catch up, as learning is cumulative.
Daily Punctuality: Arriving late even by 5 minutes each day adds up to over 3 days of missed learning in a year. Ten minutes late daily equals about 31 hours, or over 6 full days, of lost learning.

Supporting Your Child:

Reluctance to Attend: If your child is hesitant about going to school, please contact their teacher or a school staff member for advice and support. We aim to provide a positive school experience that supports both academic and emotional growth.
Attendance Goals: Aim for 100% attendance to maximize learning opportunities and improve your child's chances of success.

Impact of Unauthorised Absences:

Holidays During Term: Taking holidays during school term can significantly affect your child’s development and learning. Poor attendance records can impact educational progress and may lead to penalty notices for parents.

Commitment to Education:

School Year Duration: With approximately 190 school days per year, consistent attendance is crucial for academic success and the development of essential social and communication skills.

Ensuring your child attends school regularly and on time supports their learning journey and overall growth.

How to Support Your Child’s School Attendance

Developing a strong habit of regular school attendance from an early age is crucial for your child’s future learning. Here’s how you can help:

Talk Positively About School: Encourage a positive attitude towards school to make your child excited about going each day.
Establish Routines: Set regular times for breakfast and bedtime to ensure your child is well-rested and ready for the school day. Consider using our free Breakfast Club, which opens at 8:00am.
Prepare the Night Before: Help your child get their school uniform and bag ready the night before to streamline their morning routine.
Engage Daily: Spend time each day reading together and discussing your child’s day to reinforce their learning and make them feel supported.

By fostering these habits, you support your child’s consistent attendance and overall success in school.

How to Report an Absence

If your child is unable to attend school due to illness or another reason, please follow these steps:

Call the School Office: Notify us between 8:00am and 8:45am on the following numbers:
- 01922 710182, option 1
- 07471 030288 Provide the reason for your child's absence.
For Extended Absences: If your child’s absence lasts more than one day, call the school office each day to report the continued absence.
Attendance Concerns: If a pattern of non-attendance is identified or attendance falls below the school target, home visits may be conducted, even if a reason for absence has been provided.
If You Can’t Reach Us by Phone: Email us at studentabsence@goldsmith.windsoracademytrust.org.uk. Mrs. Lewis or a member of the Family Support Team will follow up with you via telephone to discuss the absence.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping us informed about your child’s attendance.

When to Send Your Child to School

Not all illnesses necessitate keeping your child home from school. If you're unsure whether your child should attend, please contact the school to discuss their symptoms. We will provide guidance based on the information you share, in line with School Exclusions and Health Protection guidelines.

Support for Medical Needs:

Medication and Care: We have trained staff who can administer medication and support your child’s medical needs while at school.
Forms and Assessments: If your child needs medication, ongoing medical care, or a risk assessment due to illness or injury, please contact the main office to complete the necessary forms.

Goldsmith Primary Academy is committed to supporting every child and working with families to overcome any barriers to ensure a positive school experience.

Illness	Should my child still come to school?
Conjunctivitis	Yes.
Hand, Foot and Mouth	Yes.
Head Lice	Yes.
Vomiting	Yes, but only if the vomiting has happened once.
Slapped Cheek	Yes.
Threadworms	Yes.
Diarrhoea and Vomiting	No. Your child should remain off school for 48 hours from the last episode.
Scarlet Fever	No. Your child should remain off school until 24 hours after starting antibiotics.
Tonsilitis	Yes.
Chicken Pox	No. Your child can return when all spots are crusted over.
Impetigo	No. Your child can return when lesions are crusted and healed or 48 hours after starting antibiotics.

Our approach to attendance

All children should aim for 100% attendance and a minimum of 97% attendance is expected. If attendance falls below this, it can have a significant impact on the number of lessons missed, which then impacts progress and achievement.

The table below shows our approach to dealing with attendance that falls below the expected level.

Attendance level	What happens?
Below 97%	Child identified by the Attendance Officer and monitored closely. Class teacher to raise concerns or patterns of non-attendance to Attendance Officer. Class teacher sends MME notifying home of fall in attendance and the impact this has on their learning. Medical evidence required to authorise absence for illness.
Below 95%	Child identified by the Attendance Officer and monitored closely. Identified child discussed in wider pastoral meetings where relevant support is sign posted. (Early Help) Meeting at school with Attendance Officer. Support plan and targets to help improve attendance agreed. Explore reasons for absences and refer to relevant external services. Monthly parent meetings.
Below 93%	Child identified tracked by the Attendance Officer and Pastoral team and monitored closely. First day absence home visits. Attendance monitored daily. Weekly pupil meeting for targeted pupils. Meeting at school with Attendance Officer. Support plan adapted to improve attendance as at risk of becoming classified of as persistent absence.
Below 90%	In addition to the above; Child now categorised as persistent absence. Attendance monitored daily. Meeting at school with Attendance Officer and Walsall Council's attendance officer to discuss case next steps

Celebrating Attendance at Goldsmith Primary Academy

We celebrate our students' achievements and recognize their dedication to attending school regularly. Here’s how we do it:

Termly Attendance Prizes:

Opportunity to Win: We award termly prizes based on weekly attendance. The more frequently your child attends school, the better their chances of winning a prize.
Stay Informed: Look out for posters around the school and updates via ParentMail for details on the prizes.

Weekly Class League Table:

Class Points: Each class earns points based on overall attendance every week.
Inclusive Recognition: The league table allows us to recognize and include students who may need time off for unavoidable reasons.

We encourage all students to attend school regularly and celebrate their efforts in maintaining excellent attendance.