Attendance
Attendance at Benton Dene Primary School
Aim for 100%
We expect the children to attend school regularly – every day if possible. Where we have attendance concerns, parents will be contacted and support offered.
Where persistent concerns remain, an Attendance Action Plan will be drawn up and agreed. We may also seek support from our Attendance & Placement Team.
Research suggests that children who are absent from school may struggle to catch up on the learning they have missed, which may ultimately affect progress and achievement. Please make sure your child is not absent for anything other than an exceptional and unavoidable reason.
Expected attendance is 95%+
Punctuality at Benton Dene Primary School
Doors open at 8.55am. Early years gates close at 9am, KS1 gate at 9:10am & KS2 gates at 9:15am to allow lessons to commence promptly. The school day ends for early years at 3:10pm, KS1 at 3:20pm & KS2 by 3:30pm.
Our attendance system monitors from Nursery – Y6 and highlight any concerns:
Green – excellent punctuality
Amber – some instances of being late
Red – regularly late, action to improve
PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR CHILD BY BEING ON TIME AT THE BEGINNING AND THE END OF THE SCHOOL DAY
Every minute counts
|
Lateness (Figures calculated over a school year) |
= Lost Learning |
|
5 minutes late each day |
= 3 days lost |
|
10 minutes late each day |
= 6.5 days lost |
|
15 minutes late each day |
= 10 days lost |
|
20 minutes late each day |
= 13 days lost |
|
30 minutes late each day |
= 19 days lost |
Lateness = Lost Learning
Did you know…
- A settled start…calm and ready to learn
- Improved life chances
- Building lasting relationships
- Reaching their fullest potential
- Instilling great life skills
Every school day counts
Absence = Lost Learning
|
365 days in a Year |
190 School Days in Total |
Absence |
|
100% attendance |
190 days |
0 |
|
95% attendance |
180 days |
2 weeks |
|
90% attendance |
171 days |
4 weeks |
|
85% attendance |
161 days |
6 weeks |
|
80% attendance |
152 days |
8+ weeks |
|
75% attendance |
143 days |
9+ days |
Two weeks holiday during term time is over 50 lessons missed.
Missing school is missing out
Your child’s education is very important. Regular school attendance helps pupils fulfil their potential and gives them a better chance for the future.
Every day absence from school is an opportunity missed.
Who can help if you are having difficulties getting your child to school on time every day?
Mrs Gillian Reiling – Attendance Lead or a member of SLT.
Please call the school office on; 0191 4661818 if you require support.
Leave of absence during term time
Leave of Absence can only be authorised in exceptional circumstances, which does NOT include family holidays (although some flexibility will be considered for the particular circumstances of HM Forces families). Difficulties associated with parents’ or carers’ employment cannot be taken into account.
We will consider issues related to terminal illness/bereavement, and very occasional, irregular, short absences (one, or very exceptionally two days) to help accommodate special family occasions. In any event, Regulations do not allow absences to be approved after the event.
Regulations place this entirely at the discretion of the Headteacher. If the Headteacher limits, or does not authorise Leave of Absence, but the child is still taken out of school or kept away for longer than was first agreed, the absence is unauthorised.
Schools are held accountable for the levels of attendance achieved by their pupils: we have no choice but to follow the rules.
Overall School Attendance
2015 - 2016 - 96.25%
2016 - 2017 - 96.31%
2017 - 2018 - 96.80%
2018 - 2019 - 97.20%
2019 - 2020 - 96.30% (up until March 2020 due to Covid-19)
2020 - 2021 - 97.2%
2021 - 2022 - 94.4%
2022 - 2023 - 96%*
*National Average 93.8%
