Attendance
Our attendance culture at Colmers Farm Primary School
At Colmers Farm Primary School, we believe that children achieve their best when school, families and the wider community work together.
We want every child to be happy, safe and successful, developing into a confident and independent learner. Our inclusive school community welcomes and values everyone, and we encourage our children to enjoy learning, celebrate achievement and take responsibility for themselves and others.
We prioritise a whole school approach to supporting and improving attendance and is completely aligned to Colmers Farm Primary School’s values and ethos. (Link to Ethos and Values page)
At our school, we create a welcoming environment to allow all children to gain a sense of belonging and ultimately achieve academically through regular school attendance. Our emphasis is on developing a school culture and climate which builds relationships and a sense of belonging to ensure all children can attend our school and thrive.
Our Community
Colmers Farm Primary School is proud to be part of the wider community. We recognise that supporting children also means supporting families and building strong links with organisations and services around us.
Our Pathfinders page provides information about local and wider support we can offer through our partnership with Pathfinders.
We encourage parents and carers to contact school if their family needs support. We will work with you and, where appropriate, help you access other services.
Our Curriculum Offer
We want every child at Colmers Farm Primary School to experience a broad, balanced and challenging curriculum.
Our curriculum develops children’s knowledge and essential skills while encouraging curiosity, confidence, communication and positive attitudes towards learning.
Parents can explore our curriculum information, including curriculum road maps, subject overviews, knowledge organisers and information for individual year groups.
Our wider offer also provides children with experiences beyond their everyday lessons.
Colmers Farm Primary Guarantee
Our School Targets
Attendance Target: 96% or above
Our whole-school yearly attendance target is at least 96%.
Regular attendance gives children the best opportunity to learn, make progress, develop friendships and participate fully in school life.
Every school day matters.
Our Attendance Process
Every Day Counts
At Colmers Farm Primary School, we want every child to attend school every day and to arrive on time, ready to learn. Good attendance supports achievement, friendships, routines and wellbeing.
We understand that there are times when children are genuinely unable to attend. Our approach is to work in partnership with parents and carers, identify concerns early and provide support where it is needed.
⏰ Arriving at School and Registration
Doors open from 8:35am until 8:45am to allow children to arrive in good time so that they are settled, prepared and ready for the start of learning.
AM register: 8:50am
PM register: 12:55pm
Being just a few minutes late each day can add up to significant lost learning over the course of the year.
First Day of Absence
If your child is going to be absent, parents and carers must:
Call the school on 0121 716 0444 before 8:30am on each day of absence.
Please tell us the reason for your child's absence and how long you expect them to be away from school. Where appropriate, school may ask for medical evidence, such as appointment cards or letters.
If we have not heard from you, school will contact you to check that your child is safe and establish the reason for their absence.
Home Visits
Safeguarding is our priority. If we are unable to make contact with a family, or if there are concerns about a child's attendance or welfare, a home visit may be carried out.
The school's published absence process specifically explains that where contact cannot be established, a member of staff may make a welfare home visit.
Home visits are part of our commitment to both ensuring children are safe and helping families overcome barriers to regular attendance.
Attendance Team
Our attendance team works closely with children and families to promote excellent attendance, identify concerns and provide appropriate support.
Attendance Lead: Miss Hooper
Pastoral/Attendance Team: Mrs Taylor, Mrs Buchanan
Our team is here to support, listen and work with you. If there is a problem affecting your child's attendance, please contact us as early as possible.
How We Monitor Attendance
We monitor attendance every day. This allows us to recognise good attendance and respond quickly when attendance begins to fall.
We may:
- Check your child's attendance each day and monitor patterns of absence or lateness.
- Contact you to discuss your child's attendance.
- Invite you into school for an attendance meeting if we have concerns.
- Work with you to identify barriers and agree actions or support.
- Carry out a welfare home visit if contact cannot be established.
Your responsibilities as a parent
By law, all children of compulsory school age must receive a suitable full-time education.
Once your child is registered at a school, it is the parents’/carers’ legal responsibility to ensure they attend on a regular basis. If your child does not attend school on a regular basis, you could be subject to a fine or be prosecuted in court.
Please click the booklets below to find out more about your responsibilities as a parent
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Rewards
Individual Awards
- Bronze, silver and gold badges:
Every child with an attendance and punctuality of 97% or above for a whole term will earn a badge. The first term they achieve this they will earn a bronze badge, the second term will be a silver badge and if they have an attendance of 97% or above for all 3 terms they will achieve the gold badge. This means that children have 3 opportunities to achieve badges and 1 period of absence does not prevent children earning their badges throughout the rest of the school year.
Class Awards
- EYFS & KS1:
The class with the highest attendance will be awarded a certificate and asked to look after the Colmers’ Cat for the week. Certificates will be displayed outside the classroom.
- KS2:
The class with the highest attendance will be awarded a certificate and asked to look after the Colmers’ Camel for the week in. Certificates will be displayed outside the classroom.
Playtimes: Classes with 100% attendance on any day can add 5 extra minutes to their outside playtime.
Class accounts: Classes with over 96% attendance in a week receive £5 in their class bank account to be spent in any way they choose. Classes with 100% attendance for a week will receive £20 in their account.
Money can be saved and spent at the end of the term or year for a rewarding treat that they choose themselves.
Birthdays: Children who have their birthday on a school day can come to school in non-uniform, will receive a fast track pass to the front of the line for dinner and will automatically be nominated for hot chocolate Friday.
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Family Awards
Throughout the year we have competitions for attendance to reward families, as we know that children can’t get themselves to school with out the support of parents and carers. Frequent prizes include vouchers for Amazon, Hollywood Bowl and Smyths Toy Superstore!
How to prevent your child from missing school
You can help prevent your child missing school by:
- making sure they understand the importance of good attendance and punctuality;
- taking an interest in their education, asking about schoolwork and encouraging them to get involved in school activities;
- discussing any problems they may have at school and letting their teacher know about any concerns;
- not letting children take time off school for minor ailments, particularly those which would not prevent you from going to work;
- arranging appointments and outings after school hours, at weekends or during school holidays;
- booking family holidays for the school holidays.
Safeguarding and Attendance:
Children who miss school will become part of the Support First programme which is co-ordinated by Birmingham Education Legal Intervention Team. This procedure, which aims to ensure children are in school, can lead to court proceedings for parents/carers.
At Colmers Farm Primary School, attendance is extremely important. Your child is our top priority and if they are to achieve their full potential, they must be in school to learn. Good attendance shows secondary schools and/or future potential employers that your child is reliable and is an important life skill.
Colmers Farm Primary School records details of all children’s attendance and absence from school. We do so at the beginning of morning and afternoon sessions. If your child is absent, you must inform our school immediately. Failure to do this may result in a home visits taking place.
Our school will record the absence and the Local Authority will receive this information for each child. The Department of Education also receives daily attendance data for the school.
Key Documentation
The school follows Birmingham Local Authority attendance guidance and procedures when addressing attendance concerns and supporting families.
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For more information, click on the following link. Is my child too ill for school? - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
None*= Pupils should not miss time from school for these conditions.