Attendance and Success

It is our ethos at Town Farm Primary School to pursue the highest possible standards in education so each pupil is able to achieve their full potential. 

The school staff, alongside the Local Authority, firmly believe that all pupils benefit from regular school attendance in order to make good progress and become successful learners.  We know that every day lost to education can have a serious impact on pupils’ attainment and overall progress in school. As a staff we encourage parents and carers to ensure that the pupils in our care achieve maximum possible attendance and that any problems that prevent full attendance are identified and acted on promptly.

Attendance and Absence

We take absence very seriously at Town Farm Primary School. During term times, your child should attend school regularly unless he or she is ill or the school has authorised their absence. Regular attendance now means 100% of the time the school is open unless you have the permission of the Head Teacher to be absent. In these circumstances the minimum target is 96% attendance. To maintain good attendance, a pupil would need to have less than ten days of absence in any school year. This includes days off sick, lateness and medical appointments.

In order to keep your child’s attendance as high as possible, you can:

• Ensure they are in school at the registration times of 8.45am and 1pm.  The school day ends at 3:15pm.
• Make any medical appointments between or after these times, so that they do not miss registration
• Send your child in to school if you are ‘not sure’ if they are ill. Rest assured that we will send them home if they are unwell in school
• Ensure that you do not take any time off school for holidays or other days unless there are exceptional circumstances, which will be determined by the Head Teacher.

Reporting Absence

If your child is absent from school for any reason then you must inform the school on the first day of absence by either:-

• Telephoning the school office on 01784254380 before 8.30 am stating your child's name, class and reason for absence and then send a note on their return to explain the absence; or
• Emailing the school office email account (info@town-farm.surrey.sch.uk) stating your child's name, class and reason for absence.
• If you need to make any medical or dental appointments during school hours, notify the school office and your child’s teacher beforehand so that your child is registered correctly.

If we do not receive a reason as to why your child is absent, they may receive an unauthorised mark. Where possible please provide the school with medical evidence such as a doctor’s appointment card or letter, this is essential where pupils are off for more than a few days. For pupils with poor attendance, you may be asked to provide medical evidence for every absence.

You may find the following Public Health guidance helpful:

http://www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/Guidance_on_infection_control_in%20schools_poster.pdf

Leave of Absence

At Town Farm School we expect that every child will attend school every day. The Headteacher will only grant a leave of absence to pupils during term time if they consider there to be 'exceptional circumstances'. If a situation arises where a parent feels they need to request a leave of absence in exceptional circumstances, the parent whom the child lives with must apply in writing, to the Head Teacher at least two weeks prior to the proposed absence using the application for leave of absence form which can be accessed via the school office or on the school website.

In line with DfE guidance, school will not consider a need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation to be an exceptional circumstance.

The school considers each application for term-time absence individually, taking into account the specific facts, circumstances and relevant context behind the request. A leave of absence is granted at the Headteacher’s discretion.

The Surrey Attendance Service, acting on behalf of Surrey County Council, may issue a Penalty Notice as an alternative to the prosecution of a parent/carer for their child’s unauthorised absence from school and require the recipient to pay a fixed amount.

Amount Payable Under a Penalty Notice: The Education (Penalty Notices) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

1. If a parent/carer has not incurred a penalty notice relating to the relevant child/children since 19 August 2024, then the penalty notice will be charged at the rate of £160.00, per parent/carer per child, if paid within 28 days. This will be reduced to £80.00 if paid within 21 days of receipt of the notice. Failure to pay the Penalty Notice will result in Surrey County Council considering legal proceedings against you in the Magistrates Court.
2. If you have incurred a penalty notice relating to this child/children since 19 August 2024, the rolling 3 year period will be activated from the date of the first penalty notice and the second penalty notice will be charged at the flat rate of £160.00, per parent/carer per child, if paid within 28 days. There will be no reduction for payment within 21 days. Failure to pay the Penalty Notice will result in Surrey County Council considering legal proceedings against you in the Magistrates Court.
3. If you have incurred 2 penalty notices relating to this child/children in the rolling 3 year period since the first penalty notice was issued, then you will NOT receive a third penalty notice – Surrey County Council will have no option but to consider a prosecution, per parent/carer per child, in the Magistrates Court under s 444 Education Act 1996.

Attendance and Incentives

School promotes both excellent attendance and most improved attendance for pupils and groups of pupils. 

Each week, in Celebration Assembly, the classes in 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd places for best attendance that week are announced. 

The class with the most improved attendance is also shared.  These classes leave assembly first and are rewarded with 10 minutes extra reward time.

Each term, the class that has the highest attendance percentage and the most improved attendance have a mufti day.

During our Prize Giving evening in the summer term, all pupils who have achieved 100% attended is given a certificate.