school
attendance
Attendance Statement
The School has a legal responsibility to ensure the school registers are completed twice a day, once in the morning at 8:00 am and once in the afternoon at 1:00 pm.
At Krishna Avanti Primary School we expect our children to attend school regularly by 8 am for morning registration and we will work with you, to ensure this is the case. We aim to ensure our overall attendance rate is above 98% on a yearly basis and this cannot be achieved unless we work in partnership with one another.
Attendance is regularly monitored at school and if your child’s attendance rate is of concern the school will notify you in writing.
Pupil Absence:
There are several ways to report your child’s absence to the school please see the details below:
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Use the Arbor Parental Engagement App and report your child’s absence via the attendance section as soon as possible on the day of the absence (preferably by 8:15 am) via the Arbor App/ Arbor Portal.
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Telephone the school office and leave a voice message on 020 8381 3344. Please clearly state your child’s name, class, and the reason for your child’s absence.
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Email the KAPS Office via kapsharrow@avanti.org.uk and report your child’s absence
Please support the school and ensure you report your child’s absence as soon as possible on the day of the absence so that the school is informed of why your child is not in school.
The NHS has also produced some guidance to help parents understand when their child can and cannot attend a school which you may find useful: Click here
Have a look at the attendance table below; there is plenty that parents/carers can do to prevent both your child and others from becoming unwell.
The Importance of Good Attendance and Punctuality
When pupils arrive late:
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They miss out on essential instructions given at the beginning of the lesson.
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This can significantly reduce achievement, regardless of academic ability.
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Your child may also feel awkward arriving in the classroom when everyone else is settled.
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Furthermore, when one pupil arrives late, it disrupts the entire class and the teacher (everyone’s education and learning is compromised).
We understand that there may be rare occasions when you are unavoidably late due to unforeseen circumstances. On these occasions, please make sure that you contact the school office to inform us when you will arrive. Please see the table below which will highlight what regular lateness equates to.
Minutes late per day during the school year - Equals days worth of teaching lost in a year
5 mins - 3.4 days
10 mins - 6.9 days
15 mins - 10.3 days
20 mins - 13.8 days
30 mins - 20.7 days
School Procedures
Punctuality/Late Register
Parents/carers will be required to sign in the electronic late register if their child arrives late to school (after 8:00 am). The school will send a letter home if your child is late to school three or more times. Regular late attendance will result in a meeting with the Assistant Principal and possibly the Principal if there is no improvement.
If you are late to collect your child from school when your child’s Nursery sessions or normal school finishes you may be referred to Social Services.
Collection time:
Morning Nursery pupils finish at 11:00 am
Afternoon Nursery pupils finish at 2:30 pm
Reception – Year 6 pupils finish at 2:40 pm
Absence
If your child is absent from school you must notify the school office by 8.15 a.m. on each day of absence, informing us of the reason. For all absences, a signed note, stating the reason for absence, must be brought to the school office by the first day of your child returning to school.
If you know your child is going to be absent from school, due to an emergency, you should inform the school office asap where possible by 8.15 a.m.
Please note the School day finishes at 2.40 p.m, therefore, you are advised to book hospital medical or dental appointments out of School hours or during the school holidays.
Unauthorised Absence
Unauthorised Absence is always logged and could result in more formal proceedings being taken and/or meetings with our Assistant Principal /Principal and an external professional i.e. Local Authority- SEWO.
Permission for Exceptional Leave
Permission for exceptional leave/special leave can only be given under VERY special circumstances. Exceptional leave requests need to be submitted to the Principal in writing PRIOR to making any arrangements. Please provide proof of documentation as supporting evidence for exceptional leave requests.
Exceptional Leave Forms can be obtained from the school office and a decision will be given in writing within 5 working days, to confirm if the leave requested is authorised or unauthorised absence.
If the leave is authorised please note your child must return to school on the agreed date. If he/she is absent from school the school will take formal proceedings and inform the Local Authority- SEWO and follow the procedure to remove the child off the school roll.
Absences During Term Time
We are proud to announce that we have received an Attendance Award from FFT, recognising our commitment to improving student attendance. FFT Aspire supports us by providing valuable insights and benchmarks to monitor attendance trends, helping us ensure every student thrives through consistent learning opportunities.
Question?
Can my child attend school if they are complaining of some common ailments e.g. slight cold or tummy ache?
Have a look at the bottom of this page at the attendance table; there is plenty you can do to prevent both your child and others from becoming unwell.
Attendance rates and the different types of absences are tracked as follows:
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School Level: Individual pupils, whole school and different groups of learners
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Local Authority Level: Individual schools and comparisons between different schools
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Government Level: Individual schools and comparisons between different schools
Attendance Table
Question: Can my child attend school if they are complaining of some common ailments e.g. slight cold or tummy ache?
Have a look at the attendance table; there is plenty that parents/carers can do to prevent both your child and others from becoming unwell.
The NHS has also produced some guidance to help parents understand when their child can
and cannot attend school which you may find useful: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthybody/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/
Education Penalty Notices (EPN):
Regular and punctual attendance at school is both a legal requirement and essential for pupils to maximise their educational opportunities.
If your child is absent from school, without authorisation from the school you may receive an Education Penalty Notice.
Fine.
Further information is available from Harrow Council Attendance Guidelines website, click here.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is attendance important?
At Avanti Fields, learning is fast-paced and intentional. Missing even a few days can disrupt a child’s understanding and progress. While we support pupils in catching up, persistent absence may limit your child’s ability to reach their full potential.