Blackhall Primary School is committed to maximising the potential of every child. You too want the very best for your child therefore good, consistent attendance at school is crucial to give your child the best chance of success. We need your support in ensuring that holidays are not taken in school time so that your child has the very best opportunity to succeed.
A whole school attendance target of 96% has been set for the academic year 2023/2024.
Ideally pupils are expected to achieve 100% attendance. If, however, a child is ill or is absent for any reason, parents or carers are asked to phone the School Office giving a full reason for the child’s absence. If a child is absent from school and there is no phone call from home then school will phone home to inform parents that the child is not in school and enquire about a reason why. Help us safeguard your children by ringing the school on the first day of absence and telling us why your child is unable to attend school. If we are unable to contact you, a member of the senior leadership team will try and make contact and this may involve a home visit and further action.
If a child misses registration at 9am they will be marked late in the register. If they arrive after 9.15am, the lateness will be recorded as unauthorised absence.
Dental and medical appointments should, whenever possible, be made outside of the school day. If it is unavoidable that a child should have an appointment during school hours, the school office should be notified of the date and time of appointment and when the child will be collected/returned to school. Evidence of the appointment should be given to the school.
The school/local authority does keep attendance and lateness records and these are regularly monitored by Mrs Leonard. Mrs Leonard works closely with the rest of the senior leadership team who will follow up concerns about attendance or punctuality. If the child’s attendance/lateness gives cause for concern, the parent/carer will be invited to an attendance meeting to discuss reasons for absence and to agree ways it can be improved. If the absence persists then further action will be taken, up to and including legal action.
For more detailed information, our Attendance Policy is located in our School Policies section.
School Holidays During Term Time
The school follows the latest Government regulations for taking holidays in term time and is advised by County Durham policy.
Head teachers have the discretion to grant leave, but they should only do so in exceptional circumstances. If a head teacher grants a leave request, it will be for them to determine the length of time that the child can be away from school. This leave is unlikely, however, to be granted for the purposes of a family holiday.
Parents can be fined for taking their child on holiday during term time without consent from the school.
If you wish to apply for absence from school, please complete our holiday request form and submit it to the Headteacher. Every application will be considered separately and a written response will be sent out. If you wish to discuss your application with the Headteacher, please contact the school.
