Please see below each year groups start and finish times

Please arrive at school on time and be on time to collect your child/children.

Here at Abbey Hey Primary Academy we have the highest expectations across all areas of school life, including attendance. We value positive relationships between both staff and pupils and want all pupils to feel they belong here and are valued.

We work with our pupils to ensure that they have the highest possible attendance at school. We believe that this is the best way for them to succeed and to get the most out of all we have to offer. Reseach shows there is a clear link between academic outcomes and school attendance.

We want all pupils to achieve excellent outcomes which will enable them to be successful as their journey continues beyond Abbey Hey. It is vital we work together to teach our pupils the value of attending school each and every day. However, we do appreciate that at times, pupils may not be able to attend school.

We ask our parents and carers to follow the processes below. They support our safeguarding procedures. It is also important to us that pupils arrive at school on time. Our doors open at 8.30am and pupils must be at school by 8.45am. After this time, they will be marked as late.

Absence through illness or unforeseen circumstances Parents/carers must contact the school when their child is absent to explain why. This can be done as follows;

• telephone call to the school office (0161 223 1592),

• dojo message to the office staff or class teacher

• email to attendance@abbeyheyprimary.org.uk giving the following details:

• name of pupil

• pupil’s class

• name of person reporting absence and relation to child

• reason for absence

Where a reason for the absence is not received by 10am on the day of the absence, the school will contact the parents on the same day to understand the reason for the absence.

Please schedule dental and non-urgent medical appointments outside of school hours. New government guidance As you may have seen in the news, the government have updated their guidance to schools in relation to school attendance.

ATTENDANCE UPDATE September 2024

Manchester have introduced the following escalation pathway to support good school attendance. We are keen to support any pupils and families who may be struggling to attend school every day and we will continue to monitor attendance and contact families once it drops below 97% to offer support.

We believe in strong partnerships across all parts of school life including attending school so if you have a concern about your child’s attendance, then we ask that you contact us to discuss this. If you wish to discuss your child’s attendance, then please contact one of the attendance team;

Mrs Short – attendance lead (Class Dojo, 07784 012722 or senco@abbeyheyprimary.org.uk)

Mrs Bowcock – attendance admin (0161 223 1592, Class Dojo or attendance@abbeyheyprimary.org.uk)

Clancey Chronnell – (Class Dojo, 07946 153866 or clancey.chronnell@abbeyheyprimary.org.uk)

The full attendance policy can be found on the school website, paper copies are available from the school office

Things you can do to help

• Ensure your child attends every day, on time, equipped and ready to learn. School doors open at 8.30am and lesson time begins at 8.45am. Children arriving after 9.15am may be marked absent and will require a genuine explanation or the absence will remain un-authorised.
• Ensure school has up-to-date addresses and telephone numbers. We will contact you if your child is absent and you have not contacted us. This ensures that the absence is quickly identified.
• If your child is ill, contact school on the first day of absence.
• If no contact is received regarding the absence, it is recorded as un-authorised. Ultimately the school is responsible for deciding if the absence is acceptable or not. Only genuine absence will be authorised. You will be asked to provide medical certificates if your child has a poor attendance record.
• Ensure that medical appointments are made outside of school time.
• Avoid trivial absences such as, ‘buying new shoes’. This would not be accepted as a reasonable absence.
• Holidays should not be taken in school time. Any Leave of Absence can only be agreed by the Principal and only agreed where there are exceptional circumstances.
• Respond to letters, telephone calls, texts or dojo messages regarding attendance and punctuality.
• Contact your child’s class teacher if you are experiencing difficulty in getting your child into school.
• If you need help with attendance please speak to Mrs Bowcock in the office, Clancey (Family support worker), Alyson Knowles (attendance officer) or Mrs Short (SENCO/Safeguarding lead)

Thank you for working in partnership with us to achieve the highest possible levels of attendance and punctuality at Abbey Hey Primary Academy.

Absence

If your child is going to be absent for whatever reason you must contact the school that morning either by phone or email:

Telephone - 0161 223 1592
Email - attendance@abbeyheyprimary.org.uk

If your child/children are going to be absent due to having an appointment please provide the school with a medical card or letter so that we can take a copy of this for school records. You can download and print one of the school Medical Appointment sheets below and take it to your appointment to get stamped or signed.

Leave of Absence

From September 1st 2013, the law does not give any entitlement to parents to take their child on holiday during term time. Any application for leave of absence will only be granted by the head teacher if there are exceptional circumstances that warrant granting leave. All requests for leave of absence for exceptional circumstances must be made in writing to the headteacher using the form below who will consider each individual case. Failure to attend school if the request is declined, may result in a penalty notice being issued.

Each such Penalty Notice incurs a fine of £180 to be paid within 28 days, which is reduced to £160 if paid within 21 days of the notice being served. Failure to pay a penalty notice may result in further action being taken against you.