Attendance and Timings of the school day
In the event of an absence
Parents are expected to inform us of their pupil’s absence before 9.15 a.m. on each day of absence providing the reason for absence and when their pupil will be returning to school. We will contact parents and/or other listed emergency contacts where no contact has been made. Where required, we may conduct reasonable enquiries with friends or neighbours and will carry out welfare home visits as necessary. If no contact is made, we may request a welfare check from the police.
Please telephone the school office to report a student absence or email attendance@montgomery.school
Our school is committed to providing a full, happy and successful educational experience for all pupils. We believe that if pupils are to benefit from the education we offer and to have a successful school career, good attendance is crucial. As a school, we do all that we can to ensure maximum attendance for all pupils. Any problems that prevent full attendance are identified and addressed as speedily as possible.
We give a high priority to conveying to parents/carers and pupils the importance of regular and punctual attendance. We recognise that parents/carers have a vital role to play and have established strong home-school links and communication systems that can be utilised whenever there is concern about attendance. If there are problems which affect a pupil’s attendance we will investigate, identify and strive in partnership with parents/carers and pupils to resolve those problems as quickly and efficiently as possible, aimed at returning the pupil to full attendance.
As a school we aim to:
- Encourage full attendance and punctuality
- Record and monitor attendance and absenteeism and apply appropriate strategies
- Acknowledge and reward a successful record of attendance
- Ensure a consistent approach throughout the school
Key Times At Montgomery Primary School
- The school opens at 8.40 a.m. for registration at 8.55 a.m.
- Children arriving after 8.55 a.m. when the doors have closed, should come via the office where they will get their mark in the register to show the child is ‘LATE’.
Please note: From January 2024 the doors will close at 8:45am anyone arriving after this time will be marked as late.
- Children arriving after 9.05 a.m. are registered as ‘LATE AFTER REGISTRATION,’ this is an unauthorised absence.
- Afternoon registration opens at 1.15pm and closes at 1.20 pm
This is 6 hours 35 minutes a day.
This is 32 hours and 55 minutes a week.
Lunchtimes are different for different year groups. All year groups have 1 hour for lunch.
Rec and Year 1 - In the hall for lunch 12-2:30, Out to play 12:30-1:00
Yr 2, yr3 and Yr 4 - Out to play 12:00-12:30, In the hall for lunch 12:30-1:00
Yr 5 and yr 6 - Out to play 12:30-1:00, In the hall for lunch 1:00-1:30
All year groups have a 15 minute break in the morning. Yr 1 and Yr 2 also have a 10 minute break in the afternoon.
Attendance Regulations
There were changes to the law which govern attendance in schools and holidays during term time. Amendments were made to the 2006 regulations in the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013. These amendments came into force on the 1st September 2013.
Term Time Holidays:
“The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 used to allow headteachers to grant leave of absence for the purpose of a family holiday during term time for ‘special circumstances’ of up to ten days leave per school year. Headteachers were also able to grant extended leave of more than 10 days in ‘exceptional circumstances’.”
Amendments to the 2006 regulations removed reference to the family holiday and extended leave as well as the statutory threshold of 10 school days. The amendments make it clear that headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are ‘exceptional circumstances’. Headteachers should determine the number of school days a child can be away from school if the leave is granted.
What this means is that we no longer authorise holidays taken during term time. If there are ‘exceptional circumstances’, each case will be considered on an individual basis. All other non-medical absences will be treated as unauthorised. These legislation changes have been made by the Department of Education in order to improve attendance and emphasise the importance of ensuring that no valuable school time is lost. School is absolutely essential for pupils’ future life chances.
Please work with us to ensure we make the most of every minute of your child’s valuable time in school by getting them here everyday, on time and ready to learn.
In the event of an ‘exceptional circumstance’ where you wish to request absence for your child, please complete an Absence Request form and return to Reception.
