Cudham C. E. Primary School

Cudham C. E. Primary School Jail Lane, Biggin Hill, Westerham, Kent TN16 3AX Tel 01959 572673 Fax: 01959 574798 Head of School : Mrs S Sear B.Ed (Hons) admin@cudham.bromley.sch.uk www.cudham.bromley.sch.uk

28th September 2016

Dear Parents/Carers, Spotlight on Attendance

A very important message for all parents

As you are aware, Cudham School are working in partnership with parents to improve school attendance. We would like to congratulate the many parents who make sure their children attend school regularly.

It is a parent’s legal responsibility to ensure their children receive appropriate education. Failing to send your child to school regularly without good reason is a criminal offence. Absence disrupts the education of the individual pupil and the whole class. This can have a negative impact on their progress and academic performance, as well as making it difficult for them to maintain friendships.

Absence can only be authorised by the Head Teacher, within the boundaries set by the Education (Pupil Registrations - England) Regulations 2006.

As part of the Aquinas Trust group of schools, we would also like to remind you about the issuing of Penalty Notices for non-attendance. If holiday leave is applied for and deemed not ‘exceptional circumstances’ by myself as Head of School, but the holiday is subsequently taken, an application may be made to the Borough for a Fixed Penalty Notice to be issued.

We do urge parents to do everything possible to avoid booking holidays in term time as children will miss significant amounts of learning time. In total, there are 175 non-school days a year to go on holiday and have family time. Therefore, please ensure that you book your holiday during this time.

This year we will continue to keep you and your child informed of their attendance by following the ‘WISE UP’ system, which rewards achievement. This colour codes your child’s attendance percentage and tells you how their attendance could be impacting on their progress at school. They have a chance to gain attendance awards and go for gold!

Children will be kept informed about how well they are doing and parents notified of their child’s Wise Up level at the end of each term. Parents of those children who achieve gold standard at the end of the school year will be invited to a special celebration assembly to see their child receive their award.

Aquinas Church of England Education Trust trading as Cudham CE Primary School: a company registered in England and Wales under company number 07525735. Registered Office: Bishop Justus School, Magpie hall lane, Bromley BR2 8HZ

Other incentives will include:-  Weekly Spike Award and extra playtime given to the class with the best attendance.  All children who achieve 100% attendance will be entered into a draw for a special prize at the end of each term.  All children who achieve 100% for the entire school year, will receive a medal, certificate and a super prize for the whole family!

Our minimum standard for the whole school attendance for this year is 96% and we aim for every child to be above this figure if possible. This will be monitored weekly and displayed, along with any other relevant attendance information and achievements, on the school website and on the attendance notice board outside Willow/Ash Classes. A copy of our Attendance Policy can also be found on the school website.

Please help us to help you. If you are worried about your child’s school attendance, speak to us at school as we are here to support you. Your child deserves an education and every day really does count. We appreciate your support and co-operation in this matter and again, we would like to thank those parents who make sure their child is attending school regularly and are therefore benefiting fully from their educational opportunity.

Yours sincerely

Mrs Sophie Sear Head of School