Attendance
One of our top priorities at May Park Primary school is for all our pupils to enjoy learning, experience success and realise their full potential. Regular attendance has a positive effect on the motivation and attainment of pupils. We believe that children who attend school regularly are more likely to feel settled in school, maintain friendships and gain the most benefit from their learning.
It is vital that children develop regular attendance habits at an early age. Therefore, the school will encourage parents of Nursery children, and Reception children who are not yet compulsory school age, to send their children to every session that is available to them.
All pupils must arrive by 8:50am
If arriving after 8:55am, children must report to the school office with a parent/carer to be signed in.
If your child is too unwell to attend school, we request that you call 0117 9030075 by 9.00am
Please ring each day that your child is off school.
If your child becomes unwell during the school day, we will contact you via the three emergency numbers we hold for your child. Please ensure that we are informed of any changes to these contacts.
Parental Responsibility
It is important that everyone works together to help children obtain the best possible start in life with a good education. As a school we need to work in partnership with parents so that all children have good school attendance and do not miss out on essential learning. It is a parents responsibility to notify the school of the reason for any of their child’s absences and highlighting any areas of concern they may have so they can be addressed promptly.
If you are having difficulties with ensuring that your child attends school regularly and on time, please contact Polly Stokes, Attendance Manager via the school office. Working together usually results in positive outcomes for our children and we have experience of supporting children and families through difficult situations.
As a school we will only grant leave of absence in exceptional circumstances. The request must be made by the parent with whom the child normally lives, and permission must be sought in advance preferably 4 weeks before the absence.
The law does not grant parents the automatic right to take the child out of school during term time. If you would like to request a leave of absence, please complete the form which can be collected from the school office or download from the bottom of this page.. If leave of absence is not granted and the pupil is absent, the school may request that a Penalty notice is issued.
Support for Parents
The Department in conjunction with EWS have produced a leaflet called - Attendance Matters - A Parent's Guide. This leaflet has been issued to all Primary and Post-Primary Schools to be distributed to all Pupils. Schools can print additional copies as required.
Education Welfare Service
Every school has a link Education and Welfare Officer (EWO). Their aim is to reduce unnecessary absences from school by offering support and help to pupils, parents and schools. As a school we must make a referral to Education Welfare Service when a pupils' attendance is a cause for concern or when attendance drops below 85%.
The EWO can suggest things that parents can do to help improve matters, can offer to go to the school with parents to talk to the staff about any problems and what needs done or can attend the school on their behalf to try and find answers to their child's problems. The EWO can put parents in touch with other agencies that may be able to offer further advice and help. If the problem is of a practical nature, the EWO can also offer advice about free school meals, uniform grants and transport to school.
Fixed Penalty Notice School
As you may be aware, our pupil attendance percentage falls below the national average and the expected targets for Bristol City Council.
We appreciate your support in helping to raise our attendance levels. We have a target of 95.5% and our current attendance percentage falls well below this at 94.6%.
In order to comply with the local authority expectations the decision has now been taken by the Attendance Manager, Headteacher and Governing Body to implement Fixed Penalty Notices with effect from term 4 2019
Children are required by law to attend school 190 days per year.
The Government states that every pupil’s attendance should be at least 95%.
Being LATE after registration will also LOWER your attendance.
May Park Primary School's Attendance Policy is below
Please take the time to read it . You will also find a copy of a leave of absence request form and leavers form.
