Attendance and Punctuality

At Bedford Drive Primary School, we believe that regular attendance and good punctuality help every child make the most of their education.

Why regular attendance matters

At Bedford Drive Primary School, we believe that regular attendance and good punctuality help every child make the most of their education. Every school day is an opportunity to learn, build friendships and take part in our school community. We work closely with parents and carers to support children in attending regularly and arriving on time. By signing your child's Registration Form, you agree to our attendance policy and procedures, which can be found at the bottom of this page.

Our Attendance Responsibilities

Schools are required to record attendance and absence accurately. We monitor attendance regularly and work with families to support children in attending school consistently. Attendance information is shared with the relevant authorities in accordance with statutory requirements. Our attendance policy explains the procedures we follow and is available at the bottom of this page.

Registration Times

Morning and afternoon registration takes place at the following times:

• Foundation 1: 8:45am and 12:15pm

• Foundation 2 – Year 6: 8:55am and 1:00pm

Please help your child arrive on time and be ready to learn. Regular attendance is a parental responsibility. If your child is unable to attend school for any reason it’s important that you let us know, otherwise we will have to put attendance procedures in place.

What should I do if my child is absent?

If your child is unable to attend school, please let us know as soon as possible.

You must contact us before 9:30am on your child's first day of absence.

You can report an absence in either of the following ways:

• Telephone: 0151 645 1561 (Option 1). Please leave a message.

• Email: schooloffice@bedforddrive.wirral.sch.uk

Please provide your child's name, class and the reason for their absence. This helps us record the correct attendance code. If we have not heard from you by 10:00am, we will begin contacting the telephone numbers you have provided to seek an explanation. If we are unable to establish the reason for your child's absence, we may take further steps in line with our safeguarding and attendance procedures to check on the child's welfare. Whenever possible, please arrange non-urgent medical and dental appointments outside school hours or during the holidays.

Attendance Support and Legal Intervention

We believe that working in partnership with families is the best way to support good attendance. If your child's attendance becomes a concern, we will work with you to understand any barriers to regular attendance and identify appropriate support. Where attendance difficulties continue, or where unauthorised absence meets the relevant national threshold, legal intervention may be considered in accordance with government guidance and local authority procedures.

Penalty notices are not automatic. Decisions are made on an individual basis, taking account of the circumstances and whether support is appropriate.

For further information, please see our school attendance policy or contact the school office.

Gold Attendance Awards

If a class achieves 100% attendance for the day, they receive a Gold Award.

Classes can work towards special treats as they collect awards:

• 5 awards: Extra 15-minute class play

• 10 awards: Afternoon film with treats

• 15 awards: Class party

We celebrate attendance achievements and encourage every child to attend regularly.

Why is punctuality important?

Arriving at school on time helps your child begin the day feeling settled, confident and ready to learn. When children arrive late, they may miss important instructions, classroom activities and time with their friends. We understand that some mornings can be challenging. If your child is late, please still bring them to school. Every minute of learning matters, and we want to help every child make the most of their school day. If you are experiencing difficulties with getting to school on time, please speak to us so we can offer support. Children who are consistently late after the register has closed may be subject to attendance procedures in accordance with the school's policy.

Holidays During Term Time

Children are expected to attend school during term time unless their absence has been authorised. The Headteacher will consider requests for leave during term time in accordance with the school's attendance policy and current statutory guidance. Any request must be made in advance and in writing, using the appropriate leave of absence form.

You can request a form by:

• Emailing schooloffice@bedforddrive.wirral.sch.uk

• Contacting the school office

• Requesting a paper copy from the school office

Please remember that holidays during term time are not automatically authorised. Each request will be considered in line with the relevant requirements.

When Your Child Feels Worried About Coming to School

Sometimes children may feel anxious or worried about coming to school. If your child is experiencing difficulties, please let us know as early as possible. We will listen to your concerns and work with you to understand what may be making attendance difficult.

You can help by:

• Talking calmly with your child about their worries.

• Reassuring them that adults at school are there to help.

• Keeping conversations about school positive and supportive.

• Sharing any concerns with your child's teacher or a member of our pastoral team.

We work closely with Wirral Educational Psychologists and the Inclusion Team to support children who experience difficulties attending school. Some of our staff have received training in understanding and supporting Emotional Barriers to School Attendance (EBSA). The earlier we know about a concern, the sooner we can work together to help your child.

Attendance Information

Our school attendance expectation is 97%.

A school year consists of 190 pupil days, alongside teacher training days. Attendance is calculated based on the sessions your child is expected to attend. A school day consists of a morning and an afternoon session. If your child's attendance becomes a concern, we will work with you to identify support and improve attendance. Please see our attendance policy for further information about attendance procedures and definitions.

Attendance Support

We monitor attendance regularly and aim to identify concerns as early as possible. If your child's attendance falls below the expected level, we may contact you to discuss the reasons for absence and how we can work together to support improvement. Our approach is to work in partnership with families and provide appropriate support, in line with our attendance policy and statutory guidance.