Laleham Gap School
Attendance & Absence Procedures
Every Day Matters
At Laleham Gap, we know that good attendance is about much more than simply being in school. Regular attendance gives your child the opportunity to learn, build friendships, develop confidence and feel part of their school community.
We understand that there may be times when your child is unable to attend school or may find coming into school difficult. Our approach is supportive, nurturing and focused on working together with families to help every child feel safe, happy and ready to learn.
Our aim is simple: to help every child make the most of every school day.
Why is attending school important?
Every school day provides opportunities for your child to learn something new, develop their independence and strengthen their relationships with others.
Regular attendance helps children to:
- Keep up with their learning and make good progress
- Develop positive relationships with teachers and friends
- Feel a strong sense of belonging within the school community
- Build confidence, independence and resilience
- Take part in lessons, activities, clubs and wider school experiences
- Develop good routines and habits that will support them throughout life
- Prepare for future education, employment and adult life
When children miss school, even for short periods, they can miss important learning and experiences. Returning after an absence can sometimes feel difficult, particularly if a child is already worried about coming to school.
Every day really does make a difference.
What to do if your child is late or unable to attend school
Lateness
We understand that sometimes unexpected things happen and you may find yourself running late. Please don't worry, we are here to support you. Pupils are expected to arrive at school by 8.50am but if you know that your child will be late, please keep us updated by contacting the school office or leaving a message on the attendance line - 01843 570598.
By keeping us informed, we can let the relevant staff know that your child is on their way and make sure that they are ready to welcome and support them when they arrive.
All pupils that arrive late must report to the main school office with their parent or school transport escort so that the reason for lateness can be recorded.
Absence
We understand that children become unwell and that there are times when staying at home is the right thing to do. Minor illnesses such as a common cold do not necessarily mean that your child needs to stay at home. In cases of sickness and diarrhoea, children should remain at home for 48 hours after their last episode of sickness or diarrhoea. However, if you are unsure whether your child is well enough to attend, please contact us on 01843 570598 for advice.
If your child is unable to attend school, please telephone the school 01843 570598 before 8:30am on the day of the absence and each subsequent day of absence to let us know and provide a reason - please also advise when they are expected to return to school. You may either leave a message on the automated absence line or hold to speak directly with a Receptionist (available from 8.00am - 4.30pm). Messages can be left on our automated absence line outside of school hours.
It is a safeguarding requirement so that all parties know that your child is safe and their whereabouts is known. Parents should phone in daily to update the school and inform the school when their child is returning. Keeping us informed helps us to make sure that your child is safe and enables us to offer support if attendance becomes difficult.
Medical Appointments
We appreciate that getting medical and dental appointments can be difficult and we ask that you arrange appointments outside of school hours.
If an appointment during the school day is unavoidable:
- Please inform the school office in advance - 01843 570598
- Provide evidence of the appointment where required
- Your child should attend school before and/or after the appointment wherever possible
This helps your child to miss as little learning as possible.
Holidays During Term Time
We understand that family holidays are important and that travelling during school holidays can be expensive.
However, holidays should be arranged outside of school term dates wherever possible.
If you need to request a holiday during school time, please email your request to: office@lgs.kent.sch.uk
Please note that holidays taken during term time will normally be recorded as an unauthorised absence, unless there are exceptional circumstances that meet the relevant requirements.
What are valid reasons for absence?
We understand that there are circumstances where a child genuinely cannot attend school.
Examples may include:
- When a child is too unwell to attend school
- A medical appointment that cannot reasonably be arranged outside school hours
- A pre-arranged activity or meeting that has been agreed with school in advance
- The death of someone close to the child
- A serious or unexpected crisis within the family
- Attendance at a religious ceremony or observance
Every situation is considered individually and in line with current attendance requirements.
What if my child feels anxious or worried about coming to school?
Please talk to us.
We understand that children can sometimes feel worried about coming to school. They may be experiencing difficulties with friendships, learning, changes at home, sensory needs or other worries that make school feel challenging.
It can be tempting to keep a child at home when they are anxious. While this may feel like the kindest option in the moment, regular absence can sometimes make returning to school feel even harder.
Our priority is to understand why your child is finding school difficult and work with you to find a way forward - you do not need to manage this alone.
If your child is worried about school, please speak to us as soon as possible. The earlier we understand what is happening, the sooner we can put the right support in place.
Monitoring attendance
We monitor attendance regularly because we want to make sure that every child has the opportunity to benefit from their education.
Monitoring attendance is not about blaming or judging families. It is about noticing when a child may need additional support.
We also believe that children should feel proud of their achievements - for some children, achieving a full week of attendance may be a significant achievement. For others, it may be improving their attendance over time. Whatever the starting point, every improvement matters.
How can you help?
There are lots of simple things families can do to support good attendance and punctuality.
Establish a positive routine - a predictable morning and evening routine can help children feel prepared and reduce anxiety.
You could:
- Prepare school bags and equipment the night before
- Lay out clothes ready for the morning
- Check the timetable together
- Make sure your child has enough time to get up, get dressed and have breakfast
- Establish a regular bedtime
- Talk positively about the school day
- Talk to your child
- Ask your child about their day, their lessons, friendships, and anything they may be worried about
- Encourage school participation
- Encourage your child to take part in activities, clubs, sports and other opportunities available through school - these experiences can help children develop friendships, confidence and a sense of belonging
If you notice a sudden change in their behaviour, mood or attendance, please talk to us. There may be something happening at school or at home that we can help with.
How can Laleham Gap help?
At Laleham Gap, we believe that good attendance is a shared responsibility between school, children, and families.
We are here to listen, understand and support.
If your child is experiencing difficulties with attendance, we can work with you to:
- Understand the reasons behind their absence or lateness
- Identify barriers that may be making school difficult
- Support your child to feel safe and settled
- Work with you to develop appropriate strategies and routines
- Liaise with relevant professionals and services where appropriate
- Monitor attendance and celebrate improvements
- Provide additional support where a child has ongoing medical, therapeutic, emotional or other needs
If you have concerns about your child's attendance, please speak to Justine Marsh, our Wellbeing and Attendance Officer on 01843 570598 or email her on justine.marsh@lgs.kent.sch.uk
Working together
Good attendance is most successful when school and families work together.
We will:
- Listen - We will listen to children and families and seek to understand the reasons behind attendance difficulties
- Support - We will work with families to identify barriers and find practical ways to help
- Communicate - We will keep communication open and work together when concerns arise
- Monitor - We will accurately monitor attendance and identify where additional support may be needed
- Celebrate - We will recognise good attendance, punctuality and improvements
Children are at the heart of everything we do - Our priority is always the wellbeing, safety, education and future success of every child.
If you have concerns about your child's attendance, please speak to Justine Marsh, our Wellbeing and Attendance Officer on 01843 570598 or you can email her at justine.marsh@lgs.kent.sch.uk
Laleham Gap Attendance Policy
Further information regarding attendance can be found in the school's Attendance Policy.
Help and Advice
Please note that the following links take you to third party websites
NHS - Is my child too ill for school?
Kent County Council School Attendance
GOV.UK - Keeping warm and well: staying safe in cold weather