Attendance Procedures
If your child is unwell, please keep them at home and ring the school on 01495 222128 or email PontllanfraithPrimary@sch.caerphilly.gov.uk before 9:30am. Please provide us with a reason for their absence (rather than just 'unwell').
Pupils need to attend school regularly if they are to take full advantage of the educational opportunities available to them. The progress of pupils is affected by non attendance at school. It is our aim at Pontllanfraith Primary School to maximise our attendance rate, therefore individual absences will be scrutinised.
Children are expected to attend school every day, punctually, unless there is a valid reason for not doing so. Morning school begins at 9.15 a.m. and 9:20 for Nursery.
Reasons for absence must be provided, even if your child is not of statutory school age.
It is inevitable that there will be times when your child will need to be absent from school. It may be because of a visit to the doctor, dentist, opticians, etc. Whilst we would ask that, where possible, most of these appointments are made outside school hours, we acknowledge that in certain circumstances it is not possible. At these times, it will be necessary to inform the school prior to the appointment, in writing or by contacting the school office.
Should your child be absent through illness, we ask that you contact the school on the first day of absence so that we know that your child/ren are safe at home. Please provide an explanation for the absence e.g. cold, sickness, rather than ‘unwell’. We also require an update on the third day of absence. These absences will be authorised except where consistent absenteeism gives cause for concern.
Welfare Agencies
The Educational Welfare Officer – Mr Ian Parry - visits regularly and can advise families with educational welfare problems. He may also be used by the school to check on persistent, unexplained absences, or to support families.
Holidays within Term Time
We would expect pupils to take holidays during the school holidays whenever possible. A maximum of ten school days in an academic year may be authorised by the Headteacher for parents’ annual holidays. Leave of absence forms are available in the school office and should be completed before your holiday is taken. Currently we require a rolling attendance of 95% in the 12 months prior to the holiday for it to be authorised. This is calculated just prior to the holiday (therefore if you submit a form well in advance of a holiday you will not be notified until just before the holiday as to whether the absence will be authorised). Please note that if a holiday is taken in term time it is highly likely that your child’s attendance will fall below the expected level of 95% or better.
What impact does low attendance have on my child?
In primary schools, around 90% of children with good attendance (less than 10 days a year absence) make good progress in Literacy and Numeracy. But less than 65% of children with around 15 days absence make the same progress. Parents can be very surprised at how quickly their children can accumulate 15 days absence within a year.
Callio
In Pontllanfraith Primary School we use the Callio approach in conjunction with the local authority. The aim of the approach is to further inform parents about attendance and how this will impact on pupils.
Regardless of the reasons for absence you will receive updates informing you of your child’s attendance within the Callio banding at the end of each half term.
How does the banding work?
Green: above 95% attendance - no more than 10 days absence in an academic year
Amber: 85 - 95% attendance
Red: Attendance below 85% - equivalent to more than 28 days missed in an academic year
NB Welsh Government define persistent absenteeism as below 80% - equivalent to more than 39 days missed in an academic year
Response to the COVID-19 pandemic
The threshold for the red Callio banding has been lowered for the academic years 2022/23 & 2023/24 in recognition that there are higher rates of illness (including other viruses such as Chicken Pox) post pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, Callio bandings in Pontllanfraith were set at
Green: 95%+
Amber: 90 - 95%
Red: less than 90%
Attendance Rewards
Attendance certificates are given at the end of each term.
Gold certificates: 100% attendance
Silver certificates: 98-99% attendance
Bronze certificates: 95 - 97% attendance
Please note that these are calculated for each term meaning that it is possible to receive both a good attendance certificate for the Spring or Summer term even though the Callio Amber or Red letter has been issued as a result of low overall attendance. The certificate recognises improved attendance.
Whilst we acknowledge and reward high attendance we also acknowledge that there is an element of luck in achieving a Gold certificate and that 100% attendance is not achievable for all, particularly those who have regular medical appointments.
Class Rewards
Termly class rewards aim to encourage good attendance. When calculating these we are sympathetic to those who through no fault of their own may have low attendance and take this into account.
Attendance Information
https://www.gov.wales/school-attendance-and-absence