Our whole school approach to attendance and punctuality

At Dersingham VA Primary, we have the highest aspirations for your child: we know that every lesson counts towards your child’s achievement. We also know that you, as your child’s parent/carer, want your child to get on well in life. Children only get one chance at school, and your child’s chances of a successful future may be affected by not attending school every day on time. When children do not attend or are late, they: 

• struggle to keep up with school work
• miss out on the social side of school life – especially at primary school. Poor attendance can affect children’s ability to make and keep friendships, a vital part of growing up

There is a clear link between poor attendance at school and lower academic achievement. In primary schools, less than 65% of children get good results in Maths and English in schools when they have an average of 15 days absence.

What can you do to help?

Make sure your child arrives at school on time every day.

Take an interest in what is happening for your child in school. Ask them about their day and praise and encourage their achievements at school.

If you think you might need to take your child out of school, discuss the reasons with the school as early as possible. Reasons such as family bereavement would be acceptable for short absences. Unacceptable reasons for missing school include shopping and birthdays.

If your child is ill or absent for any other reason, contact the school on the first day of absence 

Every Minute Counts

Be through the gate by half-past eight!

Being just 5 mins late each day adds up to three days of lost schooling a year.

Children that arrive late are developing bad habits.  Being on time sets up your child for the future.  Children that arrive late are likely to have missed the start of the lesson which makes it more difficult for them to learn as the lesson progresses.  Children that arrive late are likely to feel unsettles and are embarrassed to walk into class or assembly once it has started.