At Poulton-le-Sands CE Primary School, the school days begins at 8:45am. Staff welcome pupils onto the playground and support them as they enter the school building.

  • Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 enter through the small playground gate and go directly to their individual classroom doors.
  • Year 3 enter through the main entrance.
  • Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 enter through the Journey entrance on the left-hand side of the school building.

Morning registration takes place at 8:55am, followed by a whole-school act of worship at 9:00am.

End of the Day Arrangements

  • The bell rings at 3:15pm for infant classes (Reception, Year 1 and Year 2), at which point teachers begin dismissing children from classroom doors.
  • The bell for junior classes (Year 3 to Year 6) rings at 3:20pm, and children can be collected from the playground.

All children should be collected by 3:30pm.

If there is any change to the adult collecting your child, please inform the school office in good time so this information can be shared with class teachers and teaching assistants.

Attendance at Poulton-le-Sands

We know that children thrive when they attend school regularly and arrive on time. Consistent attendance helps pupils settle into routines, feel secure, build friendships and make steady academic progress.

Our expectation is that pupils attend school for at least 95% of the school year.

When children miss school, gaps in learning can quickly develop. Regular absence or lateness can affect confidence, progress and engagement in school life, and can also interrupt learning for others in the class.

Types of Absence

School attendance is recorded in half-day sessions and each absence must be marked as either authorised or unauthorised. Parents and carers must always inform the school of the reason for their child’s absence.

We value open communication and aim to work in partnership with families — and other services where appropriate — to support good attendance.

Authorised Absence

This may include:

  • Medical or dental appointments that cannot reasonably be arranged outside the school day (evidence may be requested).
  • Illness where a child is genuinely too unwell to attend school.
  • Absence approved by the headteacher due to exceptional circumstances.

Unauthorised Absence

This may include:

  • Keeping children at home without a valid reason.
  • Absence linked to family matters that do not directly involve the child.
  • Lack of evidence when this has been requested.
  • Unexplained absence or truancy.
  • Late arrival after the close of registration.
  • Shopping trips, birthdays or caring responsibilities.
  • Holidays or leisure activities taken during term time without permission.
  • Taking longer leave than agreed in exceptional circumstances.

The headteacher makes the final decision regarding how absences are recorded. As attendance registers are legal documents, families may be asked to provide evidence to support requests for authorisation.

When a Child Is Finding School Difficult

Sometimes children feel reluctant to attend school for reasons other than illness, such as worries about friendships or learning challenges.

If this is the case, please bring your child to school and speak to a member of staff. Early conversations allow us to work together to resolve concerns and provide support, rather than absence becoming an ongoing issue.

Illness and Attendance

It can be difficult to decide whether your child is well enough to attend school. Many minor illnesses improve once children are settled and engaged in the school day.

With written consent, we are able to administer medication such as Calpol. Parents are advised to follow NHS guidance when deciding whether to keep their child at home. Check the latest advice from the NHS here.

If your child attends school with a condition that could be passed on to others (for example head lice or a cold sore), please inform the school office so staff can take appropriate steps. National guidance on infectious diseases in schools is available on GOV.UK and explains when children should remain at home and when they can attend.

Persistent Absence

Attendance is closely monitored. Where a pupil’s attendance begins to fall below 95%, we will review patterns and consider what support may be helpful.

Attendance below 90% is classed as persistent absence. At this level, children miss a significant amount of education, which can seriously affect progress and wellbeing.

If concerns arise, the headteacher will contact families to discuss next steps and identify support. This may include formal attendance agreements. Where improvement is not sustained, referrals may be made to the local authority and legal action may follow.

Punctuality

Arriving on time helps children start the day calmly and confidently. Late arrival means missing key learning, instructions and opportunities to connect with classmates.

Being just 10 minutes late each day adds up to nearly two weeks of lost learning across a school year.

If lateness becomes a concern, families will be invited to meet with the headteacher to explore ways to improve punctuality. Continued lateness after the register closes may lead to further action.

Leave of Absence During Term Time

Schools are only permitted to authorise absence during term time in exceptional circumstances.

Children attend school for 190 days per year, leaving ample time outside term time for holidays, celebrations and appointments. Any time missed during term time affects learning continuity.

All requests for leave must be made in advance using a leave of absence form, available from the school office or website. The headteacher considers each request individually.

At Poulton-le-Sands CE Primary School, holidays taken during term time will not be authorised, and absence will be recorded as unauthorised. Parents should still complete a request form before making any bookings.

Leave may only be granted when:

  • A request is submitted in advance by a parent with whom the child normally lives, and
  • The headteacher agrees that the circumstances are exceptional.