Why is Regular School Attendance so Important?
Mersham Primary School works closely with children and parents with regards to attendance so that each child can achieve their full potential. Each piece of learning builds on what has gone before and allows children to make connections. Each time a child is absent a piece of the puzzle can be missed and gaps can form in their learning.
What are my responsibilities for my child’s attendance?
By law, all children of compulsory school age (5 to 16) must receive a suitable full-time education. For most parents, this will mean ensuring that your child is in school every day, except when:
- Your child is too ill to attend school.
- You have permission for a leave of absence from your child’s school for them not to attend. You should only ask for this in exceptional circumstances.
- Your religious body has a day especially for religious observance.
If your child is off school due to illness or an appointment, please contact the school office between 8am and 9am, explaining why they will not be with us. Please call each day that your child will be absent.
If you have not informed us of your child’s whereabouts, we will contact you as part of our safeguarding procedures. If your child is going to be in late because of an appointment, please either call or email the office secretary@mersham.kent.sch.uk
Everything you need to know about school attendance
Please click here for Mersham Primary School’s Attendance Policy
Punctuality
Timekeeping is also important in the education of your child. If your child is persistently late then they are missing out on important learning opportunities at the start of the lesson.
The gate opens at 8.35am and children go straight to their classrooms. The gate shuts and the school day begins at 8.45am. Children arriving after this time will be marked as ‘late’ and must report to the school office.
The end of the school day for pupils in Key Stage 1 and 2 will be 3:15pm. The end of the school day for pupils in Year R will be 3:05pm.
At the end of the school day children must be collected promptly. We understand that on occasion parents/carers may be delayed, and a telephone call to the school office is requested where possible to advise staff and to ensure we can reassure your child that somebody is on their way.
If there are instances where parents are persistently considerably late, children may be placed into after school club so they can be safely supervised. This will incur a charge.