The importance of punctuality
We know that lateness can sometimes be linked to wider barriers such as transport difficulties, family circumstances, caring responsibilities, sleep difficulties or anxiety. If punctuality is becoming difficult, please contact us so we can work together to help.
Being punctual to school is just as important as being present for the school day. Children have mentor time at the beginning of the school day which can keep them up to date with school information, teach them personal development and offer a space for them to raise any concerns or have support with their mentors.
Students who arrive late for no good reason will be issued with a mark in their character card and parents will receive a text message which informs of the lateness and the mark as a consequence. According to DofE guidelines, registers must be closed after a certain time in the morning. Therefore, if a student arrives after 9.00am, they cannot receive a late mark but have to be marked as absent for the whole morning session - this is known as a U code. If the lateness is due to a legitimate reason e.g. a medical appointment, the absence can be authorised providing we have been notified of this in advance and evidence of the appointment is seen. Otherwise, the session is marked as an unauthorised absence. A text is sent home to parents informing them of this and the fact that they could be liable for a fixed penalty notice if the child receives 10 or more unauthorised absence sessions during a 10 week rolling period.
Here are some top tips to share with your child for being punctual to school:
- Set out your school clothes the night before.
- Pack your lunch or make sure your lunch money is ready the night before.
- Ensure your bag is packed and ready to go the night before.
- Ensure all homework is completed early so that you’re not rushing to do it the morning it is due.
- Make sure you set an alarm to wake you up.
- Leave for school at the same time each morning- make this a target that you must meet daily.
- Go to bed at a time which means you get 8-10 hours’ sleep before you must wake up for school.
Every minute counts... If your child is 10 minutes late to school every day, they lose 6 full days of learning time throughout the school year. This is 6 days of missed opportunities for your child and 6 days where they will be behind on their workload.
We operate a clear stepped approach to lateness which includes detentions (30 minute same day detention for lateness), parental meetings, and further support to help students develop good routines.