At Moorlands, we work very hard to help children learn and achieve well.  To do this, parent support is needed in many ways. One of the most important ways to help and support your child is to ensure that he or she attends school and is punctual. There are many reasons for this:

• Being punctual is a skill that your child will need for life. It shows a respect for others and shows that school is important.
• Good attendance means that your child will be able to get the most out of school and make the most of the opportunities offered to them.  It will ensure that there are no gaps in their learning. This will mean that the important foundations for future learning will be strong.
• There are approximately 175 days of non-school time. Please make every effort to use this time to book holidays and visit friends and family. It is important for your child to be at school so that they can achieve and attain well.
• Children who have good attendance generally achieve better than those who do not. They are able to make and sustain strong relationships and have a better understanding that school is important.

Absence due to illness

If your child is unwell and unable to come to school then please telephone the school office (01225 421912) by 9.30am on the first day of absence.  Please follow the instructions on the telephone and be prepared to leave details of your child’s name, class and reason for absence.

Holidays during term time

The Department for Education advise that “headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless they consider there to be “exceptional circumstances” for doing so”.  If the situation arises when you feel that there are exceptional circumstances that mean that you must take your child out of school during term time, please contact our school office to obtain a copy of the relevant form.

To find out more about attendance please see our Attendance Policy (below) or contact one of our attendance team in our office on 01225 421912.

Recording Absences

In line with Government directives, notified absences for legitimate reasons are recorded as ‘authorised absences’, all other absences are recorded as ‘unauthorised absences’.

Attendance data is recorded onto a computer system, with reminder letters generated to parents if we do not have a reason for absence.

Our school attendance team monitor attendance and liaise with our staff team and the Children Missing Education Officer as necessary.

Parents will receive details of their child’s attendance at Home School Partnership Meetings and on their end of year reports.