Attendance and Holiday Guidelines

The School Day 

School is open from 9am-3.30pm term time only. This is equivalent to 32.5 hours per week. This provides for 380 sessions or 190 school days per academic year.

The school day is divided into the following:

Morning

9.00 - 12.00 Key Stage 1                  9.00 - 12.15 Key Stage 2

Afternoon

1.00 - 3.30 Key Stage 1   1.15 – 3.30 Key Stage 2

Morning playtime is from 10.15 - 10.30 

Afternoon playtime is from 2.15 - 2.30 Key Stage 1 only 

 
Why is it important to attend school?

If students are to achieve their potential, good attendance and punctuality are critical.  The link between attendance and achievement is well documented.  Figures from the DfE demonstrate this very clearly.

We want all our pupils to achieve the very best results that they can.  Irregular attendance, can, however, have a significant impact on pupil achievement.  Pupils with irregular attendance...

It should be remembered that 90% attendance is equivalent to one day of absence every fortnight.  Over an academic year this amounts to four weeks of absence (100 lessons missed!)

We will contact you if we have concerns about the attendance level of your son/daughter.  We also reward pupils who attend well and are punctual through our system of achievers assemblies and certificates.

Holidays in Term Time

We strongly discourage the taking of holidays during term-time. Pupils often find it difficult to catch up with work missed. 

Since August 2024 there has been a significant change in the law. Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) fines have increased and there is now an escalation process for repeated offences. For more information please see our Attendance Policy.

Punctuality

Parents/carers are also responsible for ensuring that their son/daughter arrives at school punctually.  At Heathwood school starts at 9.00am each day.   We will contact you if we have concerns about punctuality (3 lates or more in a half term) and ask that you support our procedures to improve punctuality. With the new attendance guidelines persistent lateness is counted as an unauthorised absence and may lead to a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN)

What Parents can do

• Ensure students arrive on time each day, well equipped and in a fit state to learn.
• Take an interest in the education of their son/daughter by talking to them about school and by attending school events (e.g. Consultation/Information Evenings etc.)
• Ring the school before 9:00 on each day of absence.
• Be alert to any signs that might indicate bullying or other issues that may affect school attendance
• Inform the school immediately if there are any matters that arise that may affect the attendance of their son/daughter

The Law

The law entitles every child of compulsory school age to an efficient, full time education suitable to their age, aptitude, and any special educational need they may have. It is the legal responsibility of every parent to make sure their child receives that education either be attendance at school or by education otherwise than at school. 
Where parents decide to have their child registered at school, they have an additional legal duty to ensure that their child attends school regularly, on time. This means their child must attend every day that the school is open, except in a small number of allowable circumstances such as being too ill to attend or being given permission for an absence in advance from the school.

When children are absent, the school must be informed before 9.20am each day of absence. In the case of doctors/dental appointments please inform us in advance whenever possible and always provide an appointment card, letter or text.