The school's Attendance Policy has been updated to come in line with the new DfE guidance that came into effect in August 2024.

The key changes are:

Our entry time

The times of the start and close of the school day for all pupils at Wymondley JMI School are:

• Classroom doors open: 8.40am
• Registration starts (doors and gates close): 8.45am
• End of the school day: 3.15pm

How we manage lateness

• The school day starts at 8.40am when children can begin to come into school;

• Registers are taken at 8.45am

• Children arriving after 8.45am are required to come into school via the school office. If accompanied by a parent/carer they must sign them in using our ‘late slip‘ and provide a reason for their lateness, which is recorded.

• At 9.15am the registers will be closed. In accordance with the Regulations, if your child arrives after that time, they will receive a mark that shows them to be on site – ‘U’, but this will not count as a present mark and it will mean that they have an unauthorised absence;

• The school may contact parents/carers regarding punctuality concerns;

• From time to time a member of school staff will undertake a ‘Late Gate’ check, greeting late arrivals at the main entrance to the school.

If your child has a persistent lateness record, you may be asked to meet with Mrs Chadwick, but you can approach us at any time if you are having difficulties getting your child to school on time. We expect parents and staff to encourage good punctuality by being good role models to our children and, as a school, we celebrate good class and individual punctuality. Unauthorised lateness could result in the school seeking advice and guidance from the Local Authority.

Absences for illnesses, appointments and approved educational activities are authorised in the vast majority of cases and most fines issued are where pupils have missed school to go on term-time holidays.

Under the new national framework, all schools will be required to consider a fine when a child has missed 10 or more sessions (5 days) for unauthorised reasons.

The fine for school absences across the country will be £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days. More information on fines can be found HERE.

As per the national guidance above, please ensure that if your child has suffered from any aspect of vomiting or diarrhoea that they stay away from school for at least 48 hours from the last episode.