Attend Today

Achieve Tomorrow

Middlemarch school attendance vision and Aims

At Middlemarch School we have begun the journey to become an Inclusive Attendance school.
Our commitment to attendance centers around your child and all actions will be based on evidence, with a shared understanding of everyone's roles and collective responsibilities to promote exceptional attendance.

Middlemarch School’s  aim is  to provide the best support for your child and our families Together, we aim to enable children to attend school regularly and overcome any potential barriers they may face in their educational journey.

Our approach to attendance will be guided by Whole school staff training, alongside a tiered support system.
The Inclusive attendance model is designed to ensure that everyone - our staff, families, and children - fully understand their individual roles and collective responsibilities in supporting school attendance, active engagement in learning, and addressing potential barriers.

Our approach to attendance will be based on positive recognition both individually and collectively as a school. Effective communication with all our families is central to our values at Middlemarch School. In light of this, we will be reporting on the number of days your child has missed so that all involved have clear understanding of the impact of missed school days on education.

The Importance of School Attendance
School attendance is not just a requirement but an essential part of education. Without good attendance, academic success, personal growth, and future prospects, are impacted. Regular attendance to school can have a significant impact on:

-    Academic Achievement: Regular attendance directly relates to academic success. Children who attend school consistently are more likely to keep up with the curriculum, perform better in exams, and improve their life outcomes.

-    Gaining Knowledge: Missing days means missing out on valuable learning opportunities and knowledge.

-    Social Development: School provides a vital social environment for children to interact with peers, develop friendships, and learn essential social skills. Consistent attendance ensures children remain connected to their peer group.

-    Building Routine: School attendance establishes a structured routine in children’s lives, teaching them time management and responsibility, which are valuable life skills.

-    Teacher Interaction: Regular attendance allows for meaningful teacher-child interactions. Teachers can provide personalised support, address questions, and assess individual progress more effectively when children attend regularly.
-    Preventing Knowledge Gaps: Frequent absences can lead to significant knowledge gaps, making it challenging for children to catch up with missed lessons, potentially resulting in long-term academic struggles.

-    School Engagement: Children who attend school regularly are more likely to engage in extracurricular activities, sports, and other enriching experiences that contribute to their overall development.

-    Community Well-being: High levels of school attendance contribute to the overall well-being of communities. 

-    Legal and Parental Responsibility: Parents or guardians are legally responsible for ensuring their child's regular school attendance. Failing to do so can lead to legal consequences.

Our renewed focus on this inclusive attendance approach will ultimately help us create a culture where everyone at Middlemarch School shares the collective responsibility for school attendance.

Arriving at school

Our school gates are open for children to enter between 8.30 and 8.40. All children make their way quickly to class for registration and to make dinner choices for the day if required. Our school day starts at 8:40.
Parents and carers are respectfully requested to park away from school, or to walk. If using the car is unavoidable, please ‘drop off and go’ using the one-way system at the front of school to keep traffic flowing smoothly. Should you have any messages for class teachers, please share them via Class-Dojo.
It is our policy that parking in the school grounds is strictly for staff only. Parents are not permitted to use the school car park during the school day for drop off or collection however may park when collecting children from after school clubs.

Leaving School at 3.10pm

Children can leave through either of the 2 gates however we ask that you arrange to meet your child avoiding the need to cross the carpark without an adult. Part of our responsibility is to ensure that children leaving school do so safely and with a recognisable adult. Should arrangements for collection change please contact the school office who will be able to inform staff. We ask that parents wait a short distance from the collection gate, do not bring dogs on to site and be mindful of using appropriate language. This will allow teachers to bring children to the gate and have a clear view of waiting parents. Please wait for your child’s class teacher to send your child to you, rather than move toward the remainder of the class, which makes it difficult for us to manage children and identify waiting parents. If your child is in year 6 they can, with your agreement, walk home alone. 

School Attendance

Our Attendance Policy explains the attendance expectations we have of all pupils. 

Registration

This process is undertaken electronically. The procedure for daily school registration is outlined below. The register is a legal document and may be used as evidence in a Court of Law.

Absences are coded by the Office Manager with the agreement of the Headteacher and Deputy Head.

We recommend that all parents read Warwickshire’s guidance for parents regarding school attendance found here.
The document explains the importance of consistently good attendance and how good attendance will benefit your child's learning and social development. It also explains the effects of poor attendance and the circumstances for which authorised absence may be granted.

All absences must be reported to the school office on each day of your child’s absence. There are various ways to do this:

Via the Study Bugs App
Phoning the office on 02476 328009
Texting on: 07537 455344
Class DOJO must not be used to report pupil absence. 

We regularly remind our school community that term-time absences other than those for illness are not authorised by school and of the procedures to be followed to request Leave of Absence. It is only the Headteacher who can authorise such absences.

Will I be contacted if my child is absent?

The school operates a first day response to absences and will text you if we have not heard from you; this is because we believe it is our responsibility to ensure your child's safety as well as to encourage their regular school attendance. It is parental responsibility to contact school on each day of absence to provide a specific reason for a child’s absence. In the event of not being able to make contact, home visits may be undertaken.

How to help your child arrive at school on time.

Establish a good morning routine. Go to bed at a reasonable time.
Organise dental and medical appointments out of school time.
Always inform school if your child is absent.
Take family holidays outside of term time.
Talk to your child about their school day.