Encouraging regular school attendance is one of the most powerful ways you can prepare your child for success—both in school and in life. When you make school attendance a priority, you help your child fulfil their full educational potential, develop healthy life habits and provide continuity for friendships.

Attendance & Punctuality

Punctuality Matters too! Missed minutes = missed learning = missed opportunities!

As a school, we are aware lateness can severely affect achievement. We monitor punctuality closely and have strategies in place to address lateness. Awareness of the impact of lateness is raised with pupils, staff and parents regularly. Registration begins at 8.45am and all pupils are expected to be in their classroom at this time. Children arriving after 8.45am will be marked as 'L' - (late) in the register. If pupils arrive after 9.00am they will be marked as 'U' (late after registers close) in the register. This is classed as unauthorised absence. On arrival after the close of register, parents must bring their child to the office to sign them in and let us know the reason for being late.

Each year, a large number of our pupils achieve 100% attendance showing that this is an achievable target! Encouraging regular school attendance is one of the most powerful ways you can prepare your child for success—both in school and in life. When you make school attendance a priority, you help your child fulfil their full educational potential, develop healthy life habits and provide continuity for friendships.

Collection

A reminder to all parents that children will only be released until their parent or sibling or carer is at the gate to collect them. We take safeguarding seriously at Crawley Ridge Junior School, the road is very busy and children will not be permitted to leave the school gate without an adult. If your child is responsible enough to walk home, please advise us so we can make a record of that.

Please remember that school finishes at 3.05pm.The impact on a child of not being picked up from school on time cannot be underestimated. The child that has been left behind will feel an increasing level of anxiety and distress the longer that they are unsure of where their parents/siblings/carers are.

Whilst we are fully aware that there are valid reasons or emergencies where collection is delayed and, when the school is informed in advance of this, we will always take an understanding view. We are duty bound to consider the impact that being collected late has on a child. We will always make every effort to contact parents on the numbers provided but parents should be aware that safeguarding processes may be initiated.

Illness & Medical appointments

When your child is unwell it can be hard deciding whether to keep them off school. Not every illness prevents a child from attending school. For guidance around whether your child should go to school you may find it helpful to visit the NHS Choices page NHS Choices Webpage

Whilst we acknowledge that it may sometimes be difficult to find medical or dental appointments outside school hours, your local surgery will often be understanding if you explain that you can only attend at a time that will not impact on your child missing education and they will do their best to book those after school, or during the school holidays. If you cannot avoid a school time appointment please give the office adequate notice and present your appointment confirmation card/text on arrival to collect your child. For a longer hospital or specialist appointments please bring the appointment letter to school and complete the request for absence form.

For any other types of absences, please complete the request for absence form. Term time holidays will not be authorised.

Remember that you can always call the school office who would be happy to talk to you and you should always contact us before 9.00am if your child is likely to be absent and the likely duration.

As always, thank you for your continued partnership in safeguarding the children and supporting their learning and wellbeing.

Please find attached below our Attendance policy, the request for leave form, and some Surrey CC leaflets that are full of useful tips and guidance.