Hayfield Primary School

Absence & Attendance

We are proud of our attendance figures at Hayfield Primary School and we work hard to ensure your children are in school so they receive the full and rich education they deserve.  We know all families will agree with this.

Our policy on attendance is in line with current statutory regulations.The Government has raised expectations (and fines) for unauthoried absence in school time from 2024.  Please see the policy below for more detailed information. 

 Headteachers are not allowed to authorise any holidays in term time unless there are truly EXCEPTIONAL  circumstances.

The application MUST be made in writing, explaining the reasons for the absence, to the Headteacher at least two weeks before to allow time for a decision to be made and notification of that decision given (forms are available from the office or the website).  Please be aware, previous good attendance cannot influence the decision in any way.

 In Ofsted terms, <96% attendance is below average. If your child has achieved 97% attendance they will have missed just over a week — or 5 days of education.

If your child is unable to attend school, please advise the school by telephone by 9.15am, and on the child’s return to school, please send a note confirming the reason for absence. 

It is important that your child does not miss school unnecessarily and arrives on time every day, ready to learn. All absences in term-time, other than for sickness or educational purposes, will not be authorised unless there are exceptional circumstances. Our policy can be viewed on the website and is in line with statutory regulations and those adopted by all schools in the local area.  To request authorisation for absence, a form must be completed 2 weeks prior to the day(s),  These are available from the School Office and below.

It is only through regular attendance that pupils can build friendships, develop social groups and life skills and truly achieve their full potential.  Absence can build very quickly:-

• 98 percent attendance means four school days missed.
• 95 percent attendance means 10 school days missed.
• 90 percent attendance means 19 school days missed.
• 80 percent attendance means 38 school days missed.

• Five minutes late each day means three school days missed.

In the interest of your child’s education, please do not book holidays in term-time. This does have an adverse effect on your child’s progress and such lost education cannot be recovered or made up by homework.  Should you choose to take your child out of school for the purposes of a holiday, the local authority can issue a penalty. 

Please speak to either Mrs Hallam or Mrs Lowe in our school office regarding any queries or questions. Call 01663 742357 or email office@hayfield.derbyshire.sch.uk 

All absences, both authorised and unauthorised, are reported to our Local Authority and to parents in their child’s end of year report.