Don't miss a moment of the greatest years of your life!
At Holy Family Catholic Primary School we know that regular attendance is directly linked to raising achievement and developing skills for life and work. Please support the school in this by ensuring that your child attends school everyday and arrives ready to learn and is on time at 8:55am.
Meet Our Attendance Team
Miss K Barton- Attendance Officer
Ms M Courtney- Safeguarding Manager
Ms C McFadden- Head Of School
Attendance Matters
Primary national pupil attendance is 97%. This means that a child needs to attend school for at least 177 out of 190 days to meet national expectations.
Understanding types of absence
Every half day absence from school, by law, has to be classified as either authorised or unauthorised. This is why the information about the reason for absence is always asked for.
Authorised absences are mornings or afternoons away from school for a good reason such as illness, medical appointments and emergencies.
An absence is classified as unauthorised, if the reason was not acceptable. The Department of Education and Local Education Authorities provide information for schools about what is acceptable and what is not.
Examples of reasons that would not be accepted:
A birthday
A shopping trip
Day trips
Holidays - unless have been agreed as exceptional circumstances.
What should I do if my child is absent from school?
If your child is too ill to be in school then we ask that you notify the school by 9am that morning. Please advise us of the reason for absence and the expected date of return. Please note Senior Management may visit any child who is absent from school. If your child is absence for 5 days or longer then medical evidence will be requested.
Medication in School
If your child is taking prescribed medication then a member of staff will administer the medication in line with our Medicines in School policy which states medicine will only be administered to a child in school if prescribed by a medical professional to given 4 x daily. Please hand prescribed medication in at the school office and complete the appropriate form. Parents do have permission to visit school during the day to administer non-prescribed medicines to their children.
Absences
Please arrange all appointments outside of the school day where possible. If an appointment during the school day is unavoidable, please note that we expect your child to attend school before and after the appointment.
A full days absence will not be authorised for a medical appointment.
We do not authorise any holidays during term time unless it is classed as an ‘Exceptional Circumstance’. An Education Penalty Notice may be issued by the Local Authority to each parent/carer for each child if this is not adhered to. Please note that the Doncaster Local Authority attendance guidance defines a parent/carer as:
If you do not notify us but we have evidence that your child has been on holiday an Education Penalty Notice (fine) may still be issued
Punctuality
It is very important that all children arrive on time. If your child arrives late on a regular basis, a parent/carer will be expected to attend a meeting to look at how punctuality can be improved.
Promoting Attendance and Support
We believe that working together with parents is the best way to result in positive attendance outcomes for our children. We have lots of high profile rewards and systems in school to promote good attendance and punctuality with the children.
All classes who achieve 95% attendance each week will get a special reward and a trophy is presented each week to the class with the highest attendance. Our weekly 100% attendance raffle also provide opportunities for good attendance to be recognised. Certificates and prizes are also given half termly in recognition of good attendance.
Recent Attendance Winners 2023
Date | Competition | Winner/Class | Prize | |
Spring Term 1 | Beat The Bell Raffle Ticket Draw | Edie-Raye S FS1 Lucy W FS2 Jessiejames S Y1 Jaxon B Y2 Franklyn M Y3 Austin M Y4 John-Joe N Y5 Maya T Y6 | Sweet Treat Gift | |
Spring Term 1 | Beat The Bell Raffle Ticket Draw | Mariah M FS1 Dorothy A FS2 Oliver B Y1 Evangeline-Lily L Y2 Benny V Y3 Harley Y4 Isla H Y5 Autum H Y6 | Mini Easter Egg | |
Spring Term 1 | 100% Attendance 'In It To Win It' | Charlie M Y4 Austin M Y4 | 2 x Flip Out Frenchgate Doncaster 1 Hour Trampoline Sessions | |
Spring Term 2 | Beat The Bell Raffle Ticket Draw | Hugo S FS1 Eldante-Rose O FS2 Alexis M Y1 Destiny H Y2 Alfie N Y3 Lily-Eden J Y4 Brendan H Y6 | Cadbury's Mini Eggs | |
Spring Term 2 | Beat The Bell Raffle Ticket Draw | Noah H FS1 Indi E FS2 Lexa S Y1 Isaiah F Y2 Maya D Y3 Eliza D Y4 Ellissa-Mae G Y5 Joe S Y6 | Cadbury's Mini Eggs Bag | |
Spring Term 2 | Beat The Bell Raffle Ticket Draw | Zara S FS1 Summer-Rose T FS2 Alix C Y1 Lilleyanna G Y2 Simon H Y3 Logan G Y4 Billy W Y5 Buddie S Y6 | Mini Easter Egg | |
Spring Term 2 | Beat The Bell Raffle Ticket Draw | Paul W FS2 Willow-Ann W FS2 Jessiejames S Y1 Amelia O Y2 Roman S Y3 Grace B Y4 Isla H Y5 Nikodem K Y6 | Cadbury's Mini Eggs Bag | |
Spring Term 2 | Beat The Bell Raffle Ticket Draw | Nathan P FS1 Evelyne A FS2 Lexa S Y1 Zoe P Y2 Poppy C Y3 Eliza D Y4 Noah C Y5 Charlotte S Y6 | Mini Easter Egg | |
Spring Term 2 | 100% Attendance 'In It To Win It' | Carter H Y1 Fabian L Y1 | 2x Greggs Voucher | |
Summer Term 1 | Beat The Bell Raffle Ticket Draw | Frankie O FS1 Archie R FS2 Isaac S Y1 Aser-Dean S Y2 Eldante R Y3 Austin M Y4 Elijah C Y5 Autum H Y6 | ||
Summer Term 1 | Beat The Bell Raffle Ticket Draw | Edie-Raye S FS1 Aaron H FS2 Alix C Y1 Riley M Y2 Roman S Y3 Junior S Y4 Craig H Y5 Lola-Rose J Y6 | ||
Summer Term 1 | 100% Attendance 'In It To Win It' | Simon H Y3 Colt B Y4 Amelia O Y2 Thomas H Y1 | 4x Ten Pin Bowling Pass |
Attendance Winners 2021-2022
Date | Competition | Winner/Class | Prize |
Autumn Term 1 | 100% Attendance 'In It To Win It' | Rowan Yr 2 | Smyths Toy Voucher |
Autumn Term 2 | 100% Attendance 'In It To Win It' | Ellea Yr 1 | Amazon Kindle |
Spring Term 1 | Beat The Bell Raffle Ticket Draw | Shyanna Yr 2 Scarlett Yr 3 | Subway Voucher |
Spring Term 1 | 100% Attendance 'In It To Win It' | Maddison Yr 4 | Family of Four Voucher To Savoy Cinema Doncaster |
Spring Term 1 | Beat The Bell Raffle Ticket Draw | Eldante-Rose FS1 Tyler FS2 Riley Yr 1 Luke Yr2 Harry Yr 3 Connor Yr4 Tino Yr 5 Harry Yr 6 | Cadburys Chocolate Easter Egg |
Spring Term 2 | 100% Attendance 'In It To Win It' (3 Prizes) | Musa Y1 | Family Pass to Astrabound Play Centre |
Kate Y1 Annabelle Y1 | 2 x Flip Out Frenchgate Doncaster 1 Hour Trampoline Sessions | ||
Summer Term 1 | 100% Attendance 'In It To Win It' | Buddie Y5 James Y2 | 2x Family of Four Ten Pin Bowling Pass |
Summer Term 2 | 100% Attendance 'In It To Win It' | Amazon Kindle | |
Summer Term 2 | End of Year 100% Attendance Winners | Borys FS2 Zoe Y1 Annabelle Y1 Tino Y5 Megan Y6 Ilie Y6 | Morning at Astra Bound Play Centre with Lunch |
Attendance Monitoring
As attendance and punctuality is so important to us, we cannot be complacent where there are instances of unacceptable , low pupil attendance , or if pupils are regularly late to school.
We will adopt measures and involve external agencies if the level of attendance requires us to do so. Letter are sent to parents where attendance has dropped below 97%. Parent meetings and home visits may also be enforced, if required.
Our Attendance Team is happy to work with both children and families to improve attendance and punctuality.
Come and talk to use if you are having any problems.