Attendance

Why is attendance important?

“Pupils need to attend school regularly to benefit from their education. Missing out on lessons leaves children vulnerable to falling behind. Children with poor attendance tend to achieve less in both primary and secondary school.” School attendance – Departmental advice (August 2013)

Haxby Road Academy seeks to ensure that all its pupils receive a full-time education which maximises opportunities for each pupil to realise his/her true potential.  The school will strive to provide a welcoming, caring environment, whereby each member of the school community feels wanted and secure. All school staff will work with pupils and their families to ensure each pupil attends school regularly and punctually.

Regular attendance at school is essential to ensure uninterrupted progress and to enable our children to extend their potential. We expect all children on roll to attend every day, when the school is in session, as long as they are fit and healthy enough to do so. We believe that the most important factor in promoting good attendance is the development of positive attitudes towards school and learning.

Poor attendance can seriously affect your child’s:

• attainment in school
• relationships with other children and their ability to form a lasting friendship
• confidence to attempt new work and work alongside others

The school will establish an effective system of incentives and rewards that acknowledges the efforts of pupils to improve their attendance and timekeeping and will challenge the behaviour of those pupils and parents who give low priority to attendance and punctuality.

To meet these objectives at Haxby Road Academy we will establish an effective and efficient system of communication with pupils, parents and appropriate agencies to provide mutual information, advice and support.

Punctuality

Children are welcome to arrive from 8:35am, with the school day starting promptly at 8:45am.

If your child arrives after 8:45am without prior arrangement, they will be marked as late on the register. Registers close at 9:00am; arrivals after this time without prior approval or extenuating circumstances will need to be recorded as an unauthorised absence.

For safety, any pupils arriving after 8:45am should enter via the main gates and report to the school office so an adult can sign them in. Similarly, if a pupil needs to leave during the school day, please sign them out at the office first so we can ensure they are appropriately chaperoned.

Registers are also taken when children return to class after lunch. If there is an unexplained absence, our attendance and wellbeing team will get in touch to check in and see how we can support you.

School Day for Reception to Year 4

Mon – Thurs – 8:45am – 3:15pm

Friday – 8:45am – 2pm

Please note: If your child is not collected by 3:30pm, they will be taken to After school club and you will be charged accordingly.

School Day for Year 5 and Year 6

For Year 5 and 6 children, the school day is as follows:

Monday: 8:45am-3:15pm

Tuesday: 8:45am-4:30pm

Wednesday: 8:45am-3:15pm

Thursday: 8:45am-4:30pm

Friday: 8:45am-2:00pm

These are times established and adhered to since Ebor Academy Trust took over the running of our school in 2015 and are legally part of their school day.

Enrichment has proved to be extremely beneficial to all of the children moving through their latter years at our school and into secondary school. The children have specialist teachers to deliver their music, PE, forest schools, Spanish and a range of other activities during these times.

What is expected of the pupils?

• To respect themselves and others
• To do all they can to attend school regularly and punctually
• To inform a trusted adult if they feel that they are being bullied
• To encourage friendship and a sense of belonging
• To be happy and encourage others to feel happy

What is expected of the Parents?

• To keep requests for their child to be absent to a minimum
• To offer a reason, or medical proof, for any period of absence, preferably before the absence or on the first day of absence
• To ensure that their child arrives at school on time, a reason should be offered for any lateness
• To work closely with the attendance and wellbeing team to resolve any problems that may impede a child’s attendance
• To take family holidays during school holiday periods and be aware that requests for holidays during term time will be refused except in special/exceptional circumstances.
• To be aware of curriculum requirements and be especially vigilant with regards to attendance during important academic times such as SATS
• To support their child and recognise their successes and achievements

Leave of Absence Procedures 

As detailed in our Attendance Policy, and in line with DfE guidance, we do not authorise leave of absence during term other than when exceptional circumstances permit. If you wish to take your child out of school, during term time, it is important to discuss this with us as much in advance as possible so we can guide you through the process.

Attendance Target

Our target for attendance this year is 97%.  Evidence shows that good attendance is a key factor in enabling children to reach their potential.  Our attendance has shown positive improvement in recent years, which was a great success. Now, as a community, we need to continue to work together with our families to ensure our attendance can reach 97%. Together in partnership, we can do this!

2022-2023: Whole School Statutory – 92.7%

2023-2024: Whole School Statutory – 91.5%

2024-2025: Whole School Statutory – 93.4%

2025-2026: Whole School Statutory – 94.4%

For our attendance policy, please see our policies page.