Attendance

We strive to meet the national attendance target of 95% and above and so we have a pro-active approach to absences. Please read our Bathampton Approach to Promoting Good Attendance and Punctuality.

Punctuality

The beginning of the school day is an important time to ensure that children are settled, organised and ready to start learning. We begin every day with DEAR (Drop Everything and Read)  Lateness can not only have an impact on an individual child’s ability to begin their day but can also have a negative impact on timetabled learning time. 

School times

Please drop your child at the main gates to the school  at 8.40am where they will be welcomed by a member of staff. The gates close at 8.50am and any arrivals after that time will need to report to the office and will be recorded as late. 

At the end of the day, gates open at 3.15pm and parents/carers can meet their child on the playground. 

Quick reference information on timings from our attendance policy:

Bathampton School information on timings: 

Our pupils must arrive by 8.50am on each school day.

Our morning register is taken at 8.50am and will be kept open until 9:10am.

Our afternoon Infant Register is taken at between 1pm and 1:15pm and our Junior Register is taken between 1.15pm and 1.30pm.

A pupil who arrives late but before the register has closed will be marked as late (L) – which counts as present.

A pupil who arrives late after the registers close will be marked as absent. If the pupil is late arriving due to a valid reason such as an unavoidable medical appointment, the absence will be authorised. If the pupil is late for no good reason, they will be marked with the unauthorised absence code ‘Late after registers close’ (U).

Absence

When a child is unwell, parents are asked to phone the school before 8.30am on 01225 465229 and leave a message on the absence line on each day of absence. Please state the child's name, class and brief details of the illness.  This can be done the evening or weekend before if it becomes clear that a child will not be fit for school the next day.

Parents are asked to let us know immediately if their child has an infectious illness. Please note that the Local Authority publishes guidance for schools on certain illnesses, which requires children to be kept at home for 48 hours after the last episode. This helps to reduce the risk of passing bugs on to other children. Please phone the School Office for advice if you are unsure.

Holiday requests in term time

Children need the continuity and security of undisrupted learning in school. The law states that schools can only authorise holidays in term time in exceptional circumstances. A pupil’s absence in term time can seriously disrupt their learning. Not only do they miss the teaching provided on the days they are away, they are also less prepared after their return for the lessons building on the ones they have missed. This is particularly damaging at the start of the academic year and at the start of terms. There is a consequent risk of under-achievement which the school and parents must avoid term-time holidays. Parents are reminded that important assessments take place during the Summer Term and that the weeks leading up to these are crucial for a child’s preparation.

In exceptional circumstances, a planned absence may be requested using the holiday/absence request form