Attendance
Attendance and Absence
Regular attendance is one of the most important factors in helping children succeed at school. We work closely with families to support good attendance and ensure every child has the best possible opportunity to learn and thrive.
Reporting an Absence
If your child is going to be absent from school or Pre-School, please contact the school office on the day of the absence.
We also operate a voicemail service, so if you need to call outside of school hours, please leave a message. Messages are checked each morning and a member of staff will contact you if needed.
If Your Child Is Absent for More Than One Day
We ask parents and carers to contact the school each day of their child's absence to keep us informed and updated on how they are.
Unauthorised Absence
If an absence is not reported to the school, it will be recorded as an unauthorised absence. Unauthorised absences affect your child's overall attendance record.
At St James Infant School, we expect children to achieve 96% attendance or above wherever possible.
Term-Time Leave
The school does not authorise holidays during term time.
Any application for leave during term time will only be considered in exceptional circumstances. The Headteacher would not normally consider a family holiday during term time to be exceptional.
Penalty Notices
Penalty Notices may be considered in the following circumstances:
- 5 consecutive days of term-time leave, or
- 10 sessions of unauthorised absence within a 10-week period (within the same or different academic years).
Penalty Notice fines are issued to each parent, for each child who was absent.
First Offence
The first time a Penalty Notice is issued for term-time leave or irregular attendance, the fine will be:
£160 per parent, per child
Payable within 28 days.
Second Offence (Within 3 Years)
The second time a Penalty Notice is issued for term-time leave or irregular attendance, the fine will be:
£160 per parent, per child
Payable within 28 days.
Third Offence (Within 3 Years)
If a third offence occurs for term-time leave or irregular attendance within a three-year period, a Penalty Notice will not be issued.
Instead, the case will be referred directly to the Magistrates' Court.
Magistrates can issue fines of up to:
£2,500 per parent, per child
School Hours
Children are expected to attend school during the following hours:
Monday to Friday
8:45am to 3:15pm
Arriving on time each day helps children settle quickly, access their learning from the start of the day, and make the most of every learning opportunity.
