Attendance and Punctuality Matters

"Pupils' attitudes to all aspects of school life are exemplary."

                                                                                                    - OFSTED, 2015

At Mitchell Brook, we expect all children on roll to attend every day, when the school is in session, as long as they are fit and healthy enough to do so. There is a proven connection between success at school and high attendance. We do all we can to encourage the children to attend, and to put in place appropriate procedures if attendance is poor. We believe that the most important factor in promoting good attendance is the development of positive attitudes towards school. To this end, we strive to make our school a happy and rewarding experience for all children. We will reward those children whose attendance is very good. We will also make the best provision we can for those children who, for whatever reason, are prevented from coming to school.

Celebrating good attendance

All the children who have 100% attendance will receive an excellence certificate for attendance, awarded at the achievement assembly each term.

We celebrate the class who has the highest attendance each week with a special certificate and reward.

Letters of recognition are sent home if children improve their attendance over the year.  These are usually children who have been monitored and their parents/carers have been attending the attendance meetings with the EWO.

Term-time leave

The school has adopted the policy of all requests for leave in term time to be submitted to the Headteacher. Leave will not be approved unless it is under proven exceptional circumstances and in these cases further evidence will be requested.

The Head may request a meeting with parents to discuss the request and/or documentation may be required to back up a request. Any unauthorised extended leave/holidays in term time will result a referral to the Education Welfare Officer and a penalty notice/fine. The Local Authority authorises the fine that is sent to families.

Punctuality

Learning at Mitchell Brook starts from 8.45am therefore getting to school on time is essential. Punctuality is a life skill. Parents are expected to support their children with this.

To support with children being on time the school does the following:

• runs a breakfast club for 50p per day from 7:30.am
• opens the school gates at 8:30 am
• operates a 'soft start' from 8.30am -8.45am

This means it would be an exceptional circumstance to be late rather than a regular occurance.

The school gates close at 8:45. Children arriving after this are considered 'MB late' as school starts at 8:45. Register is taken and lessons begin.