Welcome Pack Booklet - Reception Starters 2024-25

This booklet is designed to support parents and carers working in partnership with our Early Years Team to ensure your child’s start in their Reception class is a positive and pleasurable experience that will give them the best of starts on their journey through school with us.

ATTENDANCE

We do our best to provide a welcoming, caring environment,

whereby each member of the community feels secure and at

home. Your child should attend school everyday unless there is an

unavoidable cause such as illness. Excellent attendance at school

is important to allow a child or young person to fulfil their potential.

WHY ATTEND SCHOOL EVERYDAY?

Good attendance gives your child the best

opportunity of success and helps develop

skills for life. Evidence shows there is a clear

link between attendance and their success.

Missing school damages pupils’ learning,

disrupts routines for themselves and their

classmates and can make them feel

isolated from their peers.

If your child arrives after 8.55 am, they will be

classed as late and need to be signed in

through the school office. If your children are

late, they are missing the valuable start to

the day.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY CHILD IS OFF

SCHOOL?

Send a message via the School Gateway

App or email/phone the Attendance officer

by 9am on each day of their absence so

that we know your child is safe at home.

Please make any medical, dental or other

appointments out of school time. However,

we understand that this can sometimes be

unavoidable. Please let the school office

know in advance of any appointments they

need to attend and provide evidence of

the appointment, so that we can update

our records.

CONTACT OUR ATTENDANCE OFFICER

Call 01803 577940 (Option 1) or email:

attendance@whiterockprimaryschool.co.uk

ABSENCE IN TERM TIME

Holiday during term time is not allowed due

to Government regulations. Permission for

any planned absence from school must be

sought from the Headteacher.

A request must be made using our Absence

Request Form which can be downloaded

from our website. This must be submitted

before time off is required.

PENALTY NOTICE

Parent/carers commit an offence if their

child doesn’t attend school regularly and

the absence has not been authorised. In

these cases a penalty notice may be issued

and be paid in 28 days otherwise you may

face the possibility of a prosecution. The

government stipulates that the Headteacher

may grant permission to take time off during

term time only in exceptional circumstances.

Taking time off without permission will be

counted as unauthorised and 10 sessions or

more unauthorised absences can lead to a

penalty notice and a fine being issued.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I’M HAVING

DIFFICULTIES WITH ATTENDANCE?

It’s important you come and speak to us

straight away. Remember parents / carers

have a legal responsibility to make sure their

child attends school. Please contact us and

we can support you.

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