Attendance
Starting the school day
Children should arrive between 8.30 - 8:45am. They should enter the school via the garden gate which is opened and supervised between 8.30 - 8:50am. The front entrance is for parents and visitors only. The school day officially starts at 8.45am and all children are in school for at least 32.5 hours a week.
Please use the Village Car Park next to the school and use the footpath through the recreation ground to access the children’s entrance. In view of the narrow nature of Vicarage Lane please avoid walking in the lane or using the front door of the school, if at all possible.
Collection at the end of the school day
In the interests of safeguarding, children will be released by their class teacher from one of the external doors that lead onto the playground; class finish times will be slightly staggered to avoid congestion:
Reception class, Year 1 and Year 2 will leave via the double doors in the infant block.
Year 3 and Year 6 will leave from the single door behind our Year 6 classroom.
Year 4 and Year 5 will leave from the double doors at the back of the school hall.
| EYFS | Years 1 - 2 | Years 3 - 4 | Years 5 - 6 |
| Collection time > 15:10 | Collection time > 15:15 | Collection time > 15:20 | Collection time > 15:25 |
Speaking with your child's teacher
We always welcome communications between Parents and Staff. During the course of the school year, open evenings are held to give staff an opportunity to discuss children’s progress with parents and view work in classrooms. Interviews take place in a confidential situation. Parents are always welcome to make an appointment via the office to see the Headteacher or a member of staff should problems arise at other times.
We ask your co-operation in ensuring that appointments are made in advance. If there is a pressing problem requiring instant attention, please see the Headteacher.
Attendance, Absences, Registration and Term Time Holiday
REGISTRATION
At East Farleigh, we use an electronic registration system. This method is directly linked to your child’s education record and will enable us, (and the local authority), to view attendance data and determine levels of authorised and unauthorised absence for your child. We expect a minimum of 96% attendance from all pupils (preferably higher).
When collecting and returning your children to and from school during the course of the school day, please ensure you sign in or out at the office. If you are changing your collection arrangements, please ensure both your children and the office know who is collecting them.
STUDYBUGS
East Farleigh Primary has recently introduced a new and more efficient and secure system for reporting children’s absence due to illness, called Studybugs. If you haven’t already, please get the free Studybugs app, or register on the Studybugs website, and use it to tell us whenever your child’s ill and unable to attend school.
Get the app or register now (https://studybugs.com/about/parents)
Top 3 reasons why we use Studybugs
- It’s integrated with our systems so we know right away if your child is unaccounted for.
- It’s quick and easy to register and use and automatically reminds you to keep us posted.
- You’ll be helping the NHS and other public health organisations improve children’s health. (https://studybugs.com/about/schools)
TERM TIME HOLIDAY
We ask you to avoid taking holiday during the school term - all requests for permission for a pupil holiday are considered in keeping with our Attendance Policy (see below). Please note: absence will not be authorised for years Y1, Y2 or Y6 during periods of statutory assessment.
