St Thomas More
Catholic Primary School
Attendance
At St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, our children enjoy learning and want to be in school. We know that attendance, progress and attainment go hand in hand, so we encourage and work with all children to have excellent attendance and punctuality. We want every member of our school to have the very best opportunity to achieve their full potential, both in and out of the classroom.
Our target for 2026-2027 remains at 96%; this means that on average no pupil misses more than 4% of school days (less than seven days). We have effective systems in school to monitor attendance and parents of children whose attendance falls below what is acceptable will be invited to meet with the school to discuss how to overcome any attendance issues.
Lateness
Poor punctuality is not acceptable. Lessons start at 8.55 am and if a child misses the start of the day, they miss work and do not spend time with their class teacher getting vital information and news for the day. Late arriving pupils also disrupt lessons and being late can be embarrassing and upsetting for the child.
Children arriving late will be marked in by the Office Staff, where additional information regarding number of minutes late and the reason is recorded on SIMS.
It is the expectation of the school that all pupils attend registration and lessons on time every day. The school gate opens at 8:40 am and closes at 8.55 am after which children will be directed into school via the main entrance.
St Thomas More Catholic Primary School
Attendance Champion: Mrs K Turner
Attendance Officer: Mrs Sage-Lloyd jsagelloyd@st-thomasmore.gloucs.sch.uk
Morning Registration:
- Registration opens at 8:45 am and closes at 9:15 am.
- Pupils arriving between 8.55am and 9:15am will be recorded as late (L Code).
- Pupils arriving after 9:15 am will be recorded as having an unauthorised absence (U Code) unless a valid reason is provided.
Afternoon Registration:
- Registration opens at 1 pm and closes at 1:30 pm.
- Pupils arriving between 1:10 pm and 1:30pm will be marked as late (L Code).
- Pupils arriving after 1:30pm will be marked as having an unauthorised absence (U Code) unless a valid reason is provided.
Absence reporting: 01242 513339
We will always listen, empathise and support parents and children with attendance, however, we will not tolerate persistent absence at St Thomas More Catholic Primary School.
It is the expectation of the school that all children will attend school 100% of the time.
If you have any queries regarding attendance, then please contact the Attendance Officer, Mrs Sage-Lloyd, who will offer help and support.
Attendance Policy
Attendance Ladder of Intervention
Remote Learning
Attendance and Absence
At St Thomas More, we recognise the importance of regular attendance. The overall level of attendance that we aim to achieve is 100%. Ideally, there should be no unauthorised absence.
All pupils should attend school for every session that is available to them, unless the reason for their absence is one that meets the school’s criteria for authorising absences, e.g. illness, non-routine medical/dental appointments, religious observance, educational visits and another unavoidable cause.
Legal Duty as a Parent
The parent of any child at St Thomas More has a legal duty to secure the regular attendance of that child. Failure to secure the regular attendance at school of a registered pupil is a criminal offence which can lead to prosecution of the parent(s) in a magistrates’ court.
Gloucestershire Local Authority have produced information leaflets which parents are advised to download and read. These leaflets are available by following the links below.
Holidays During Term-Time
With effect from the 1st September 2013, the Department for Education changed the legislation about children's absence from school. The legislation makes it clear that more affordable holidays are not exceptional circumstances.
Headteachers have the discretion to authorise holiday during term-time in exceptional circumstances. The school's Attendance Policy makes clear that the requirement for exceptional circumstances means that the vast majority of requests will be refused and, if the holiday is taken anyway, this will constitute unauthorised absence which may result in the issue of a penalty notice to each parent in respect of each absent child.
Parents are requested at all times to contact Mrs Sage-Lloyd or the school office to discuss any absence from school.