Parsons Down Partnership of Schools is committed to providing an education of the highest quality for all pupils. Promoting good school attendance, good punctuality and reducing absence is central to ensure:

​

• every pupil’s day-to-day welfare and safeguarding

• every pupil has access to full-time education

• that pupils make good progress academically and personally

• that pupils leave with the best possible opportunities for their future

​

Parents are responsible for ensuring their child arrives at school on time.

​

• Pupils are expected to be on site by 8.40am for Junior School pupils and 8.45am for infant School pupils.

• Pupils who arrive between 8.50am and 9.15am will be marked as late, but counted as present for that session.

• Pupils who arrive after the register has closed at 9.15am will be marked as absent for that session. If the parent provides a satisfactory explanation this will be marked as an ‘authorised absence’; if the parent fails to provide a satisfactory explanation this will be marked as an ‘unauthorised absence’ for that session.

• The afternoon register is taken by 1.35pm. On occasions when the school day ends earlier than normal, the afternoon register may move to 1.30pm.

• A normal school day ends at 3.15pm.

​

Parents are responsible for contacting the school when their child is absent to explain the reason.

​

They need to phone the main school reception on 01635 866700 and press option 1 or email the office via the school website or office@pdp.w-berks.sch.uk. This needs to be done by 8.30am on the first day of absence.

​

If no reason is given, or further information is required, a phone call is made to parents in the first instance (or by text, email or letter if unable to make contact).

​

We regularly monitor cases where attendance is below 95%. In cases where absences are increasing, actions are taken which aim to prevent children becoming or remaining a ‘persistent absentee’ (<90%).

​

Parents must get permission from the Head Teacher in order to take their child out of school during term time. A leave of absence is granted entirely at the Head Teacher’s discretion provided that:

​

• A completed application form is submitted in advance

• There are exceptional circumstances

​

Parents should plan holidays within the school breaks and avoid seeking permission from schools to take their children out of school during term time unless absolutely unavoidable.

​

Parents should be aware that an unauthorised leave of absence of 10 sessions or more can result in the issuing of a Penalty Notice, served per parent, per child.