Attendance & Punctuality

At Cranmere Primary School we believe that good attendance is not just a legal requirement but an important part of every child’s well-being and development.

When children attend school regularly, they can take full advantage of the exciting learning opportunities on offer and build the knowledge, confidence, and friendships that help them thrive. Establishing good attendance and punctuality habits early on helps set children up for success both now and in the future.

If your child is unable to attend school, please let us know as soon as possible, along with the reason for their absence. Schools are required to keep accurate records of attendance, and we share this information with the local authority and the Department for Education. If attendance falls below 90%, the school’s Inclusion team may get in touch to offer support.

Arriving on time each day is also very important. The start of the school day helps children feel settled and ready to learn, and it sets a positive tone for the rest of the day. Lateness is recorded in the register, and we are required by law to take attendance at the beginning of both the morning and afternoon sessions. 

Attendance and Absence Information

Term-Time Absence

At Cranmere Primary School, we believe that every school day counts. Regular attendance ensures children can fully engage with their learning and make the most of the opportunities school provides.

Term-time holidays are not authorised as they disrupt learning and cause pupils to miss valuable classroom experiences.

We understand, however, that there may occasionally be exceptional circumstances that require your child to be absent during term time. In such rare cases, please complete a Request for Exceptional Leave of Absence form and submit it to the Headteacher at least two weeks in advance. Each request will be considered carefully, and permission will only be granted if the absence is deemed to be in the child’s best educational interests.

Thank you for supporting us in ensuring your child’s learning is not disrupted by unnecessary absences.

Sanctions for Unauthorised Absence

In line with local authority guidance, the Headteacher, with the support of the council’s Inclusion team, may issue a fixed-penalty notice for unauthorised absences.

The penalty is:

• £80 if paid within 21 days, or
  
  
• £160 if paid within 28 days,
  payable directly to the local authority.
  
  

A fine may be considered if your child has 10 sessions (5 school days) of unauthorised absence within a 10-week period, along with other factors. Before a fine is issued, families may be given a notice to improve and offered support to help improve attendance. Please note, if your child arrives at school after 9:20am, this will be marked as an unauthorised absence for the morning session. 

Attendance Support

We understand that there may be times when attendance is affected by illness, anxiety, or family circumstances. Our Attendance Team is here to help. If you are finding it difficult to ensure regular attendance or need advice, please contact the School Office - we will work with you to find a supportive solution.

Acceptable Reasons for Absence

We recognise that some absences are unavoidable. Acceptable reasons include:

• Illness: When your child is unwell and unable to attend.
  
  
• Medical appointments: If an appointment cannot be scheduled outside school hours (please provide evidence where possible).
  
  
• Religious observance: For recognised days of religious observance, following a request to the Headteacher.
  
  
• Exceptional circumstances: For rare, unavoidable events such as a family emergency - please contact the school as soon as possible to discuss.
  
  

Reporting an Absence Due to Illness

If your child is unwell, please contact the School Office before 8:30am each day of their absence with their name, class, and reason for absence.

You can notify us:

• By email: info@cranmere.surrey.sch.uk
  
  
• By phone: 020 8398 5580
  
  

If we have not heard from you by 8:30am, we will contact you to confirm your child’s whereabouts in line with safeguarding procedures.

Absence for Medical Appointments

To notify us of a planned medical appointment, please email the School Office with your child’s name, class, and the date/time of the appointment. If no reason or evidence is provided, the absence may be recorded as unauthorised.

Request for Exceptional Leave of Absence

If you wish to request leave during term time, please complete an Exceptional Leave of Absence Form, available from the School Office or to download below.

This form should be submitted at least two weeks before the proposed absence wherever possible.

Please note that family holidays or celebrations (e.g. birthdays) are not considered exceptional circumstances.