William Murdoch Primary School works hard to ensure that all pupils reach their potential, and attendance and punctuality are key to achieving this. Meeting our ambitious school target of 97% attendance across the academic year helps to ensure pupils do not miss key learning opportunities and are able to make good progress. We regularly monitor the attendance of all pupils. Where the attendance of individual pupils becomes a concern, we will work closely with parents/carers to identify any barriers and provide support to improve attendance.

The school policy closely follows the Department for Education (DfE) and Local Authority (LA) guidance for attendance. All pupils are expected to attend every day unless there is an authorised reason for absence.

Authorised Absence

Please telephone the school as soon as possible to let us know if your child is unwell and unable to attend school. This will prevent any unnecessary follow-up by the school or external services.

Unauthorised Absence

Any absence judged to be unauthorised may be referred to the Local Authority Attendance Team (Education Welfare Service – EWS) and, in line with current government legislation, parents/carers may be issued with a penalty notice (fine) if they fail to ensure their child’s regular attendance at school.

The school will always aim to work with families first to improve attendance before taking further action.

Persistent Absence

The DfE defines persistent absence as attendance below 90%. Therefore, if a pupil misses 19 or more days over an academic year, they will be classed as persistently absent, regardless of whether the absence is authorised or unauthorised.

If a pupil becomes persistently absent, parents/carers will be invited to attend a meeting with the Pastoral Manager and/or Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to discuss concerns and agree a plan to support improved attendance.

Leave of Absence

In exceptional circumstances, the Headteacher may authorise a leave of absence. A written agreement confirming the dates of absence and return will be discussed with parents/carers.

Holidays during term time will not be authorised except in exceptional circumstances. Parents/carers who take their children out of school without authorisation may be subject to a penalty notice or other legal action.

Appointments

Whenever possible, dental and medical appointments should be made outside of school hours. If this is not possible, parents/carers should provide either a letter or an appointment card for school records.

If your child needs to leave school during the school day, they must be collected from the Main Office by a parent/carer and signed out. If another adult is collecting your child, you must inform the school in advance. For safeguarding reasons, we may refuse collection if suitable arrangements have not been confirmed.

Punctuality

William Murdoch Primary School operates a ‘soft start’ to the school day, with doors opening for pupils at 8:40am each morning. All pupils must be in school by 8:50am, which is the official start of the school day. Being on time every day is vitally important, as it ensures pupils do not miss important learning.

Pupils who arrive after 8:50am must enter school via the Main Office and sign in using the InVentry system.

Collection of Pupils After School

Pupils must be collected promptly at 3:20pm (Group A) or 3:25pm (Group B), unless they attend an after-school club. Late collection may place children at risk due to reduced supervision. Where late collection becomes a concern, the school will work with parents/carers to resolve the issue and, where necessary, seek support from external agencies.

If your child attends an after-school club, they should be collected promptly at 4:30pm from the Upper School hall. If pupils are not collected on time, their place at the club may be withdrawn.

Pupils from Nursery to Year 4 must be collected by a parent/carer or a named adult listed on the Pupil Information Form (updated annually), unless alternative arrangements have been agreed in advance.

No pupil will be permitted to go home with anyone under the age of 16, including siblings who attend William Murdoch Primary School.

Year 5 and 6 pupils may go home alone only where written parental permission has been provided and agreed by the school. Parents/carers wishing for their child to go home independently must complete the relevant form at the Main Office, which will be reviewed to ensure the arrangement is appropriate and safe.

Paper copies of all information on our website are available free of charge from the school office upon request.