Attendance & Absence Reporting
Good attendance is essential for children to achieve their full potential. At Francis Baily Primary School, we expect every pupil to attend regularly and on time so they can make the most of their learning.
Why Attendance Matters
- Children who miss school frequently fall behind in their learning
- Good attendance helps children build friendships and confidence
- We aim for at least 96% attendance for every child.
Reporting an Absence
If your child is unwell or unable to attend school, please let us know by 9am on the first day of absence by emailing attendnance@francisbaily.co.uk. Please state your child’s name, class and reason for absence. If they are poorly with sickness/diarrhoea, please include the date and time of their last episode. Note: NHS guidance is for a child to stay home for 48 hours until they have not been sick or had diarrhoea for two days.
If we do not hear from you, the school will contact you and may carry out a welfare check.
By law, parents/carers must ensure children:
- Attend school daily and arrive by 8:55am
- Avoid holidays and routine appointments in term time
- Provide reasons and, if asked, evidence for any absence.
Monitoring & Support
Attendance is reviewed regularly by our Attendance Team and the West Berkshire Education Welfare Officer. Families are contacted if attendance falls below expectations, and support is offered where needed. We celebrate excellent attendance through certificates, recognition and House Points, because every day in school helps our pupils shine.
Punctuality
Arriving on time is important. The school gates close at 8:55am. Late arrivals must sign in at the main office. Pupils arriving after this time will be marked late and frequent lateness may be recorded as an unauthorised absence.
Authorised / Unauthorised Absence
By law, only the Headteacher can decide whether an absence is authorised. We always look at each case individually, but here are the general guidelines:
- Authorised Absence – illness, unavoidable medical appointments, or exceptional circumstances that the Headteacher has agreed in advance.
- Unauthorised Absence – holidays in term time, unexplained absences, arriving late after the register has closed, or taking non-essential days off.
If you are unsure whether an absence will be authorised, please contact us before making any arrangements.
Holidays During Term Time
We know that family situations sometimes make term-time absence unavoidable, but requests should be rare and only in exceptional circumstances.
- There is no automatic right to take children out of school for a holiday.
- If a request is not approved, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised.
Requests must be made in writing using the Planned Leave of Absence Form below.
Persistent unauthorised absence may result in penalty notices being issued – see the Department for Education’s National Framework for School Attendance.