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    • Attendance

    At Hillside Infant School, we believe that coming to school every day really matters. Regular attendance helps children feel secure, build friendships, and make the most of their learning opportunities, supporting their wellbeing and overall development.

    All schools are asked to aim for at least 96% attendance. This means that if a child has no more than seven days’ absence over the school year, they will meet the expected level of attendance.

    We work closely with families to encourage good attendance, and our attendance registers are monitored by the local authority. This helps ensure that we are doing everything we can to support children and families and keep pupils safe.

    If a child is absent from school, and we have not been informed of the reason, we must follow safeguarding procedures. This is always done with your child’s safety in mind. Schools have a responsibility to act quickly if a child’s whereabouts are unknown, as early action can help prevent harm.

    In these situations, we will follow the steps below, in order:

    • Contact the first/main emergency contact
    • Contact any additional emergency contacts we have on record
    • Visit the home address
    • Contact the police, in line with safeguarding procedures

    If your child’s attendance becomes a concern, we will always speak with you first and arrange a meeting to see how we can help. Our aim is to work in partnership with families and offer support wherever possible.

    Together, we can achieve the best outcomes for your child. If you are experiencing any difficulties that may affect attendance, please do get in touch with us — we are always happy to help.

    Punctuality

    It is important that children attend school every day and arrive on time. Arriving late can be unsettling for children and can affect their learning and wellbeing.

    Being just 10 minutes late each day can result in over 33 hours of lost learning across the school year.

    The school doors open at 8.45am. Morning registration takes place from 8.55am to 9.00am.

    • Arrival between 9.00am and 9.15am will be recorded as late.

    • Arrival after 9.15am will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.

    If the classroom door is closed, parents and carers must report to the school office to sign their child in.

    Parents and carers will receive a letter if their child is late more than three times in one month.

    Exceptional leave

    We are unable to authorise any exceptional leave for holidays during term time unless there are special circumstances surrounding this.  Any requests for leave must be emailed to the office with all information included, i.e. the dates you are intending to go and also when your child will be returning to school. 

    Please be advised that if you decide to take any leave, it will NOT be authorised. There is a new national threshold of 10 unauthorised sessions for any reason (equivalent to 5 school days) within a rolling 10 school week period for when a penalty notice from the Local Authority must be considered. We will have to refer the matter to the Participation Team who may issue each parent with a Penalty Notice for each child.  There will be a penalty fine of £80 per parent if paid in 21 days. If the fine is not paid by the first 21 days, it will rise to £160 if paid within 28 days of being issued.  If the notice(s) remains unpaid, you will be summoned to the Magistrates Court and could be fined up to £1000.   

     

     

     

    Local authority guidance

     

    FAQS

    Attendance FAQs

    Why is good attendance so important?

    Regular attendance helps children feel settled, confident, and ready to learn. Being in school every day supports your child’s learning, friendships, wellbeing, and overall development. We know that sometimes absences are unavoidable, but wherever possible, attending school every day really does make a difference.

    What is the expected level of attendance?

    All schools are asked to aim for at least 96% attendance. This means that if your child has no more than seven days’ absence over the school year, they will meet the expected level of attendance.

    What should I do if my child is too unwell to come to school?

    If your child is too unwell to attend school, you must contact us before 9.00 a.m. to let us know the reason for their absence. You can do this by:  Calling 0208 249 6860, or Emailing office@hillsideinfant.org.uk

    Letting us know promptly prevents us from having to follow our safeguarding procedures for unexplained absences.

    Is my child too ill for school?

    As a general guide, children can usually attend school if they:

    • Have a mild cough or cold
    • Are feeling a little tired
    • Are managing well with everyday aches or pains

    Children should stay at home if they:

    • Have a high temperature
    • Are vomiting or have diarrhoea (they should stay off school for 48 hours after the last episode)
    • Are feeling too unwell to take part in normal school activities

    We follow UK public health guidance and understand that every child is different. If you are unsure, please contact the school office and we will be happy to advise.

    Can my child attend school if they have had paracetamol (calpol)?

    Yes. If your child requires liquid paracetamol (Calpol), we can give it to them in school if needed.  
    You must let us know if you have given a dose before school, and we can administer another dose later if required, following our medication procedures.

    What if my child has a medical appointment?

    Where possible, children should attend school before and after medical appointments so they can receive their registration marks.  For example, if your child has an appointment at 10.30 a.m., please bring them to school as usual, collect them in time for the appointment, and then return them to school afterwards.

    What happens if the school doesn’t know why my child is absent?

    If a child is absent, and we have not been informed of the reason, we must follow safeguarding procedures to ensure their safety. These steps are followed in order:

    • Contact the first/main emergency contact
    • Contact any additional emergency contacts we have on record
    • Visit the home address
    • Contact the police, in line with safeguarding procedures

    This process is always about keeping children safe.

    What if my child’s attendance is causing concern?

    If attendance becomes a concern, we will arrange a meeting with you to talk things through and see how we can help. Our approach is always supportive, and we want to work in partnership with families.

    What if I have difficulties getting my child to or from school?

    If you are experiencing difficulties with drop-off or collection, please let us know as soon as possible. Support may include:

    • Access to breakfast or after-school club
    • In exceptional circumstances, help from a member of staff

    We are here to help wherever we can.

    Together, we can achieve the best outcomes for your child. If you are experiencing any difficulties that may affect attendance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us — we are always happy to support.

     

     

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