Attendance data representing Autumn term 2023 and Spring term 2024 (Produced 20th May 2024)
- Class 2 HR 96.0%
- Class 3 HR 94.9%
- Class 4 HR 92.3%
- Class 5 HR 92.5%
- Class 6 RS 96.8%
- Class 7 RS 89.6%
- Class 8 RS 91.7%
- Class 9 RS 94.6%
- Class 10 RS 93.9%
- Class 11 RS 93.4%
- Average 93.6%
School attendance is a high priority for all schools, and Eslington Primary School is no exception. When a child attends school every day and on time, it not only ensures that they optimise their learning opportunities but also supports the child’s personal development in preparation for adulthood. Our attendance has always been good at Eslington, but we also acknowledge that this can always be improved.
The Government and the Local Authority have made it very clear that there is no automatic right to any holiday during term time. It is a common misconception that pupils are allowed to take up to ten days holiday in term time during any academic year. In fact, the Local Authority can fine parents for taking their children out of school for holidays during term time. Headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. Low cost travel or arrangements made by other family members or friends are not deemed exceptional circumstances. If you feel there are exceptional circumstances to be considered, please contact the school to discuss this further. It is important not to make any financial commitment for a holiday (during term time) until the absence has been discussed with the Headteacher first.
It is vital that children attend school punctually and regularly. Please support us by bringing your child to school on time for the start of the school day or by ensuring that they are punctual for their taxi journey into school. Registration of your child’s attendance closes at 9.45am. Arrival at school after this time is recorded as a ‘late’ mark in the register.
We operate a ‘first day absence’ policy and will contact you as soon as possible if we have not been informed as to why your child is not in school. Any pupil not in school at this time will be marked as an ‘unauthorised absence’ unless, or until, we know why they are absent. Any child who is absent on a regular basis will be internally monitored and our Pastoral Lead will arrange a meeting to offer support in the first instance. All necessary steps will be taken by school and Gateshead LA to ensure punctual and regular attendance by every pupil. Research does indicate that regular or lengthy periods of absence have a significantly negative impact on a child’s progress. Absences during the school term should be kept to a minimum.
Please make sure you inform the school of any health problems which may affect your child’s education, or regular attendance. A copy of our attendance policy can be obtained from the school office. This policy describes how the school deals with punctuality and attendance concerns.
48 Hour Rule
From time to time children are sick (vomit) either at home or at school. Unfortunately it is not possible to distinguish between the causes, and therefore it is essential that the same rule of exclusion applies in all cases of vomiting and/or diarrhoea. In the Health Protection Agency document, “Guidelines for the Control of Infection and Communicable Disease in School and Early Years Settings”, the guidance is:
Diarrhoea and Vomiting exclusion
Diarrhoea and/or vomiting commonly affects children and staff and can be caused by a number of different germs, including viruses, parasites and bacteria. Infections can be easily spread from person to person (by unwashed hands), especially in children. In general, it is recommended that any staff member or child with diarrhoea and/or vomiting symptoms must stay away or be excluded from the school or early years setting until they have been free of symptoms for 48 hours (the ‘48 hour rule’) and feel well. Personal hygiene whilst ill must be very strict.
If your child is sick at school, we will ask you or your emergency contact to take your child home. They should not return for 48 hours. We appreciate that this is inconvenient in many cases, and you may not believe your child is ill, but you will appreciate that we do this in all cases and it should reduce the risk of infection for all children in school. As an example, if your child is sick at lunchtime on a Tuesday, they should not return to school until after lunch on Thursday, provided there have not been any further episodes of vomiting and/or diarrhoea.
Thank you for your understanding with this. Further guidance on infection control may be found on the Public Health England Website.
Compare our school’s Absence and Pupil Population information using the Gov.uk School Benchmarking Service