Attendance

Keeping in touch

To ensure we can care for your child safely and effectively, it is important that we have accurate and up-to-date information, including emergency contacts and any dietary or medical needs.

If any of your details change during the year, please update them using the Arbor app or contact the School Office for assistance.

Attendance

Regular attendance is essential for your child’s education and well-being. At Elton Primary School, we expect all children to attend school every day, arrive on time, and be well-rested and ready to learn.

By law, all children of compulsory school age (5 to 16 years) must receive a suitable full-time education. Once your child is registered at a school, parents/carers have a legal responsibility to ensure they attend regularly. Where attendance concerns arise, parents/carers may be issued with a Penalty Notice or face legal action.

We work closely with One Education to support and promote good attendance. Our Attendance Adviser visits the school weekly to help us monitor attendance, provide guidance and work with families where additional support may be needed.

If you are experiencing difficulties that may affect your child's attendance, please contact the school as early as possible so that we can offer support.

Bury Council Penalty Notice Leaflet

Arriving at School

School gates open at 8:45am and close promptly at 8:55am. Registration takes place during this time, so it is important that children arrive before the gates close.

Children arriving after 9:00am will be marked as Late (L) on the register.

Children arriving after 9:30am, once registers have closed, will be marked as Late After Registration (U). This is recorded as an unauthorised absence.

What Happens If My Child Is Late?

If your child arrives after the gates have closed, they must report to the School Office before going to class. The reason for their late arrival will be recorded.

Reporting an Absence

If your child is unable to attend school, please use Studybugs to log and record their absence before 8:30am on the first day of absence. When reporting an absence, please provide:

The reason for the absence
Any relevant information regarding their illness or circumstances

If you are unable to access Studybugs, please contact the school office on 0161 705 2674.

If we do not receive notification of your child's absence, a member of the School Office team will contact you to ensure your child is safe and accounted for.

Any absence that is not explained or authorised by the school will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.

Collection Arrangements

If someone different is collecting your child from school, and they are not listed as an authorised collector, you must inform the School Office before collection time.

For children in EYFS, parents and carers will also be asked to provide a collection password. To safeguard our pupils, children will not be released to another adult without the correct password unless we have spoken directly with a parent or carer to confirm the arrangement.

Attendance Support

If you are experiencing difficulties that may affect your child’s attendance, please contact the School Office as soon as possible. We are committed to working with families to ensure that every child has the best possible opportunity to attend school regularly and achieve their full potential.

Tips for Good School Attendance

Parents and carers play a vital role in helping children develop positive attendance habits that support their learning and well-being. Here are some simple ways you can help:

- - Establish good routines from an early age, including regular bedtimes, reading before bed and a consistent morning routine.
  - Ensure your child gets plenty of sleep so they are rested and ready to learn.
  - Provide a healthy breakfast each morning to help your child start the day focused and prepared for learning.
  - Wherever possible, arrange medical, dental and optician appointments outside of school hours or during school holidays.
  - Take an active interest in your child’s learning and support them with reading and homework at home.
  - Attend parents’ evenings and school events to discuss your child's progress and development.
  - Help your child understand the importance of attending school every day and arriving on time.
  - Avoid keeping your child off school for minor illnesses that would not prevent them from taking part in normal school activities.
  - Plan family holidays during school holiday periods to minimise disruption to your child’s education.
  Working together, we can ensure that every child achieves the best possible attendance and makes the most of their time at school.