School Session Times and Attendance

School Session Times
 
Bell rings for morning registration at 8:55am.  Classroom doors are open from 8.45am.  School finishes for all year groups at 3:30pm.
 
Attendance

We prioritise children being in school on time and every day as this gives them the greatest chance to be successful in their learning, feel part of the school community and maintain friendships.  We want our morning routines as clear and robust as possible so here are some key points:

 Doors open at 8:45 each morning and registration is 8:55.

  • All children enter the school grounds via the main gate by the school field, this includes Year 3 who had been using the side entrance.
  • Children with mobile phones (not smartphones) can drop these to the Office before walking to class via the main entrance.
  • Any child arriving after 8:55 will need to go via the Office.  Please use the iPad to share your arrival time and the reason.  All children must be accompanied by an adult to select the correct reason.
  • If your child will be late for a planned reason, such as medical appointment, please try to notify us in advance and we will keep a note of this.  Please provide evidence of appointments such as text confirmations, letters or prescriptions written.
  • School finishes at 3:30pm and it is important that children are collected on time.  If you anticipate being late, please let the Office know so they can notify the class teacher.
  • Attendance will be monitored regularly and shared via assemblies and the newsletter.  Attendance will be shared termly with you but we may be in contact sooner, if there are any concerns.
  • If you are concerned about your child’s attendance, please get in contact with your class teacher in the first instance.

Many thanks for your support in this important aspect of school life.

 

Mr Barnard
Improving Attendance Lead

From 19th August 2024, a National Framework for Penalty Notices for school absence, including unauthorised holiday absence, was updated following changes to the law.  For detailed guidance see Working_together_to_improve_school_attendance_-_August_2024.pdf

 

For a summary of the key points, see the letter below:

If your child is absent from school without authorisation, you will be committing an offence under the Education Act 1996. We may submit a request to Cornwall Council for a Penalty Notice to be issued, in accordance with Sections 444A and 444B of the said Act. Penalty Notices are issued per liable parent, per child and each carry a fine of £80 if paid within 21 days or £160 if paid after this but within 28 days.

 

If your child is further absent from school without authorisation within any 3-year period, you will be committing a further offence under the Education Act 1996. We may submit a request to Cornwall Council for a Penalty Notice to be issued, in accordance with Sections 444A and 444B of the said Act. Penalty Notices for a second offence are issued per liable parent, per child and each carry a fine of £160, payable within 28 days.

 

Importantly, fines per parent will be capped to two fines within any three-year period. Once this limit has been reached, other action such as a parenting order or prosecution will be considered. 

 

Failure to pay the Penalty Notice may also result in legal action. If you are prosecuted and attend court because your child has not been attending school, you could get a fine of up to £2,500. Cornwall Council may also apply for the costs incurred in taking the matter to Court, including legal costs.

 

 Absence not authorised by the school may also result in a prosecution in the Magistrates’ Court under Section 444(1) or Section 444(1A) of the Education Act 1996, leading to a fine of up to £2,500 and/or a custodial sentence. Again, Cornwall Council may also apply for the costs incurred in taking the matter to Court, including legal costs.

 

Money raised from fines is only used by the local authority to cover the costs of administering the system, and to fund attendance support. Any extra money is returned to the government. 
Please see attached the penalty notice leaflet issued by Cornwall Council: