Regular school attendance is an important part of giving your child the best possible start in life. At Merrylands Primary School and Nursery, we expect children to achieve at least 96% attendance. Children who miss school frequently often fall behind with their work and do less well academically; they also miss out on social interactions with their peers. We want to work in partnership with parents/carers to maintain good attendance for all children. 

Absence Procedures

If your child is unwell and unable to attend school, this must be reported to the school office either by phone: 01268 417893, ParentMail or by emailing: admin@merrylands-pri.essex.sch.uk

Contact should be made with the school office every day that your child is absent.

Advice on childhood illnesses – can my child attend school?

Lateness

Children should arrive to school on time every day. When a child arrives late to class, they can feel unsettled or embarrassed, miss vital learning or disrupt lessons.  Lateness can also be recorded as absence if arrival is after the registers have closed.

The classroom doors open at 8.40am and all children should be in their classroom before the registers are taken at 8.55am.  Children arriving after this time will be marked as late.  Any child arriving after 9.25am will receive an unauthorised mark for the morning session.

Are you worried about your child’s attendance?

If you have any concerns about your child’s attendance, please do not hesitate to speak to your child’s class teacher, a member of the senior leadership team or our Family Support Officer, Mrs Tolley. We want to work with you to remove any barriers preventing regular attendance and support your child to benefit from all the educational opportunities that Merrylands Primary School has to offer.

Medical appointments

We encourage you to make all appointments for your child outside of the school day. However, we appreciate that this may not always be possible.  If your child needs to attend an appointment, please ensure they attend as much of the school day as possible by attending school before and/or after the appointment.  If your child needs to leave the school site during the school day or is due to arrive late following an appointment, please inform the school office prior to the appointment. Where possible, we request evidence of the appointment, such as a letter or appointment notification.

Term time holidays

Children should be in school every day and are not permitted to take holidays during term time. If you believe there are exceptional circumstances, you should apply to the school for a leave of absence.  Holidays during term time will not be authorised.  If the absence is not authorised and the holiday is taken, the case will be referred to the local authority who may issue a penalty notice for £160 (£80 if paid within 21 days) to each parent for each child taken out of school. Further details about the National Framework for Penalty Notices can be found below.