This is a successful school and your child plays their part in making it so. We aim for an environment which enables and encourages all members of the community to reach out for excellence. For our children to gain the greatest benefit from their education it is vital that they attend regularly and your child should be at school, on time, every day that the school is open, unless the reason for the absence is unavoidable.

The Senior Attendance Champion within school is the Headteacher: Mrs. Erica Mason

(supported daily by our Home-School Support Officer: Mr. Gavin Wesley)

If your child is ill or absent you MUST inform school by 9.00 a.m. You can do this in the following ways:

1. Telephone school (01282) 612807 from 8a.m. or leave a message on the answer phone

2. See Mr Wesley (Home School Support Leader) or Mrs. Mason on the school gate

3. Call personally into the school office

4. Email Mrs Mason (head@whitefield-inf.lancs.sch.uk) or Mr. Wesley (hsso@whitefield-inf.lancs.sch.uk)

Responding to non-attendance:

If a pupil has not attended school and you have not contacted us to let us know why, we will respond in the following manner:

•  Try to make contact with you via the telephone.
•  If we cannot contact you on the telephone, visit your home address.
• Our Home School Support Leader (Mr Wesley) will enquire about ALL absences that we have not been notified about.
•  If you do not inform school about an absence your child could receive an UNAUTHORISED absence.
• Mr Wesley monitors the attendance of ALL pupils at the school and will contact parents if there are concerns.

School and Parental Responsibilities

A big thank you to all our families who take attendance and punctuality seriously. We are really grateful to you for getting your child in on time so that they can learn as much as they possibly can.

'Early Birds Club' opens every weekday from 8.00am for any families who need this support.

School doors open from:

EYFS - 8.30 and children start learning in class from 8.40am.  

KS1 - 8.35am and children start learning in class from 8.40am.  

Our target for the whole school attendance is 96%

Every child has the right to attend school every day. Casual attendance and frequent absence really has a detrimental effect on children’s education and emotional development. At Whitefield Infant School everyone has their part to play in ensuring that all children attend regularly.

We want our school to have the best attendance, so that our children can learn as much as they possibly can. 

This is achieved by: 

Parent / Carer Responsibilities: 

• To ensure their child attends school regularly and on time. 
• To inform school preferably between 8:00am and 8.45am on the first day of a child’s absence. 
• To keep in contact with the school should there be difficult home circumstances requiring support from the school. 
• To not take holidays during term time as these will be unauthorised and a penalty notice may be issued. (Holidays are strictly not allowed in term time)
• To ensure the school has three current emergency named contact names and numbers. The child should know these 3 people. 
• To take medical and dentist appointments outside school time if possible. 
• To co-operate with the school in our aim to improve attendance. 

The School’s Responsibilities: 

• Inform parents of their responsibilities for maintaining regular attendance for their child. 
• We aim to support any family in difficulties or crisis. 
• Refer families requiring support to Mr. Wesley, our school 'Home-School Support Officer' or the Education Welfare Officer as necessary. 
• We value and reward good attendance; weekly, half termly, termly and annually through certificates, praise in assembly, rewards and a class attendance treats. 

We will inform you if your child is regularly late for school and we will request an explanation. Parents/carers will be invited into school to discuss this concern with our Home-School Support Officer/Headteacher, in the hope of resolving the problem. 

To raise standards, please be aware, letters will be sent from school or the Education Welfare Services if there are any concerns. 

Research shows that the closer a school and family work together the more likely a child will succeed. 

Leave in Term Time & Unauthorised Absences

Leave in term time is not a ‘right’. Absence from school can have a serious impact on your child’s education. All requests for leave in term time must be made in advance of confirming any arrangements and may be granted at the Headteacher's discretion dependant on the circumstances. Changes to the Regulations mean that schools can only authorise leave in term time if the circumstances surrounding the request are considered to be exceptional. 

If pupils accumulate a number of unauthorised absence's, school may have to consider referral to external agencies, such as the Local Authority Pupil Attendance Support Team. The use of Penalty Notices may also be considered under certain circumstances, including where leave is taken without agreement