School Hours

• Gates open: 8:40am
• School ends: 3:10pm
• Total hours provided in a typical week: 32.5 hours

Our School Day

Our gates open at 8:40am, and the school day ends at 3:10pm, giving your child 32.5 hours of learning each week.

We make the most of every minute together. As soon as children arrive, they settle straight into learning, building on their next steps through linked provision or maths starters, before moving into phonics and reading first thing. Starting the day this way means children are ready to learn from the moment they walk through the door, which is just one of the reasons why every day, and every minute, really does count.

Why Attendance Matters

Is Attendance Important?

Quite simply, yes. It is a legal requirement for children of school age to attend school regularly. Good attendance is also directly related to a child's enjoyment and achievement at school, and is vital in promoting successful, lifelong learning. Poor attendance in the early years can have a significant impact on a child's education and results well beyond primary school. Primary education provides the essential building blocks for future learning, and children need to attend well now to achieve their best in the years ahead.

Attending school makes a real difference to your child's education. Learning builds day by day, each lesson leads into the next, so missing school means missing a piece of that journey. Reading through the material afterwards or catching up at home just isn't the same as being there, learning alongside the teacher and classmates.

So much of what happens in the classroom, discussions, hands-on activities, experiments, and working together, simply can't be recreated for a child who's been away. Being there is what makes the difference.

Why Every Day Counts

It really is simple: children who attend school regularly do better, and enjoy it more. Good attendance helps children feel settled, build friendships, and keep pace with their learning, setting them up well for the rest of their school journey and beyond. The habits children build in the early years of primary school often stay with them, so what happens now really does matter later.

Understanding Attendance Levels

• Below 90%: your child is classed as a persistent absentee, and we'll be in touch to talk this through with you
• 93%: your child is at risk of becoming a persistent absentee, and we'll let you know
• 95% and above: brilliant, your child has a great attendance level. Keep it up!

Letting Us Know About an Absence

If your child is going to be away, please let us know with a reason why, otherwise we'll have to record it as unauthorised. If we haven't heard from you by 9:00am, we'll get in touch to check everything's okay.

You can let us know through:

• - The Arbor Parent Portal
• - A phone call to the school office

Not Sure If They're Well Enough for School?

It's not always easy to know whether to send your child in if they're feeling a bit under the weather. The NHS has some helpful guidance to point you in the right direction:

Is my child too ill for school?

If Attendance Becomes Difficult

Sometimes getting to school isn't always straightforward, and that's okay. We're here to help remove whatever's getting in the way, whether that's something your child is finding tricky or something happening at home. Please reach out to us early, so we can work through it together. Wherever we can, we'll look to solve things as a school first.

Taking Time Off in Term Time

We're not able to authorise holidays during term time.

If you need to request time off for any reason, including exceptional circumstances or, for example, a music or dance exam, please complete a Leave of Absence form, available from the school office.

Please be aware that penalty notices may be issued if a child is taken out of school without this being agreed in advance.

Complete the form below and either email it to parents@foundrylaneprimary.co.uk or hand it back to the school office.

Application for Leave of Absence

Fines for Unauthorised Absence

For the latest guidance on penalty notices and fines, please see:

Fines for parents for taking children out of school: What you need to know – The Education Hub