The impact upon children’s education through lost learning is huge. At a time when so much education has been disrupted it is vital that we make every school minute count. I urge you to ensure that your child is in school and on time everyday to prevent anyone falling behind with their learning.

Persistent cases where poor attendance and punctuality do not improve can be considered to be a safeguarding concern.

Herts County Council track school attendance figures. It is considered that attendance of 90% or below is persistent absence which will be closely monitored by school staff.

Northfields Infants and Nursery School has a whole school attendance target which is 96%, and currently we are falling short of this figure which concerns me.

There are things you can do to improve your child’s attendance and avoid falling into the persistent absence category:

• If your child is unwell and you are unsure whether to send them to school, contact the office to seek advice on 01462 623388
• Avoid taking any holidays during term times
• Keep up to date with what % attendance your child has so that you know if they are at risk of persistent absence (office staff will provide this for you)
• Speak to school staff with any concerns.
• Talk to your child about the importance of them being in school and let them know how important you feel it is.

We want to help families get their child to school on time. Here are some things you can try:

• Have everything you/your child needs for school prepared the night before
• Ensure that your child goes to bed reasonably so they are not too tired to get up in the morning
• Ensure your child has a good night’s sleep by minimising their use of devices at bed time
• Have a consistent bedtime routine for your child
• Set an alarm to allow plenty of time for your morning routine in getting to school on time

Illness

When a child is unwell, it can be hard deciding whether to keep them off school for parents. These simple guidelines taken from the NHS website should help. 

Not every illness needs a child to stay away from school. If a child is kept away from school, parents must inform the school on the first day of their absence.

Common sense needs to be used when deciding whether or not a child is too ill to attend school. Parents need to ask themselves the following questions.

• Is my child well enough to do the activities of the school day? If not, keep your child at home.
• Does my child have a condition that could be passed on to other children or school staff? If so, keep your child at home.
• Would I take a day off work if I had this condition? If so, keep your child at home.

Common conditions

If a child is ill, it's likely to be due to one of a few minor health conditions. (see below)

Cough and cold

A child with a minor cough or cold may attend school. If the cold is accompanied by a raised temperature, shivers or drowsiness, the child should stay off school, visit the GP and return to school 24 hours after they start to feel better. If a child has a more severe and long-lasting cough, they should go to a GP. They can give guidance on whether your child should stay off school.

Raised temperature

If a child has a raised temperature, they shouldn't attend school. They can return 24 hours after they start to feel better.

Rash

Skin rashes can be the first sign of many infectious illnesses, such as chickenpox and measles. Children with these conditions shouldn't attend school. If a child has a rash, check with a GP or practice nurse before sending them to school.

Headache. A child with a minor headache doesn't usually need to be kept off school. If the headache is more severe or is accompanied by other symptoms, such as raised temperature or drowsiness, then the child should be kept off school and a GP consulted.

Vomiting and diarrhoea

Children with diarrhoea and/or vomiting must be kept off school until at least 48 hours after their symptoms have gone. Most cases of diarrhoea and vomiting in children get better without treatment, but if symptoms persist, consult a GP.

Sore throat

A sore throat alone doesn't have to keep a child from school. But if it's accompanied by a raised temperature, your child should stay at home.

Chickenpox

If a child has chickenpox, they must be kept off school until all their spots have crusted over.

Tap HERE to visit the NHS website.