Attendance & Punctuality
Please contact our attendance office, Jo Dawson, if you have any queries regarding attendance or punctuality.
Regular attendance at school is important and Redbridge is determined to improve attendance and to reduce unauthorised absence at all its schools. Fairlop Primary School has adopted the Redbridge recommended Attendance Strategy. Absences for exceptional circumstances will be authorised for a maximum of 3 days, and do not include holidays.
The playground gates open at 8.55am for all parents and children. School staff are on duty in the playground at this time.
Reception to Year 6 - The children’s entrances to school are opened at 9.05am and children should go directly to their classes. Teaching begins promptly at 9.15am by which time all children should be in school.
Pre-School - Parents should take children directly into the Pre-School at 9.00am.
Please ensure that your child arrives at school at the correct time. It is very disruptive for staff and pupils when a child arrives late as much key work is covered during the first half hour of teaching time. Children need to be aware that punctuality and general good timekeeping are disciplines for life. After 9.15 children are marked ‘late’. Children who arrive more than 15 minutes after the beginning of the school day are recorded as ‘absent’. Punctuality is also monitored by the Educational Welfare Officer (EWO) and penalty notices are issued following regular lateness.
Unauthorised Absence
Parents are advised that on the second day of any unauthorised absence, the EWO will be informed and that you may be liable to a Fixed Penalty Notice fine of up to £120. Unauthorised absence of 10 days or more may lead to a child being removed from the school roll.
Children who are unwell
Please do not send your child to school if s/he is unwell, but phone the school on the first day of absence. If a child becomes unwell during the day we will contact you if they have a raised temperature, have been physically sick or obtained an injury that requires a hospital visit.
Childhood Illness - Please view the NHS guidance on whether your child can attend school if they are unwell.
Minor accidents and injuries are dealt with by a trained member of staff and recorded in the Accident Book. All accidents and injuries suffered at school are reported to and monitored by the Governing Body.
Medication
The school is able, in special circumstances, to administer prescribed medication to children. The parent/carer must complete the appropriate form available from the school office. The school may administer non-prescription medications i.e. antihistimes / Calpol / Ibuprofen / eczema creams as long as the medication is clearly labelled and only used by that individual child. Asthma inhalers are stored in the classroom or welfare room. Eye drops, eardrops or nasal sprays cannot be administered by staff members but supervision can be given if the child can self-administer. All administered medication is logged and all medication is stored in a lockable, but accessible, cupboard in the Welfare room.
All unused medicines, including out of date auto injectors, must be returned to the parent / carer.
Holidays
Family holidays must always be taken out of term time. Fairlop follows the Redbridge LA policy of zero tolerance for holidays in term time and holidays will not be authorised other than in very exceptional circumstances. The EWO monitors absences and penalty notices are issued for holidays/extended absences taken in term time. Any requests for absence should be made in writing to the Headteacher.
Absences immediately before or after a school holiday
If your child is absent before or after a school holiday, we must see evidence for the absence. This may be medical absence if your child is unwell, or evidence of flight delays or circumstances beyond your control. We cannot authorise any absences before or after a holiday without this evidence and you risk being issued with a penalty notice.
Appointments
If you need to collect your child from school for a medical appointment, a note to the school office is required to that effect. On these occasions, please leave school via the main office to ‘sign out’ your child. Please bring your child into school either side of an appointment is possible.