ATTENDANCE POLICY

 

 

At Montessori Kindergarten Ilfracombe we believe good attendance is essential if children are to be settled and take full advantage of the learning and development opportunities available to them. At a young age, continuity and consistency are important contributors to a child’s well being and progress. 

 

Parents and carers responsibilities 

It is the responsibility of the parents/carers to:

1. Ensure that Montessori Kindergarten Ilfracombe has up to date emergency contact details for your child. 

2. Notify us if your child is going to have a planned absence from nursery, providing details of the length and reason for absence i.e. holiday or medical appointment. 

3. Notify us at the start of the session of an unexpected absence i.e. due to illness. 

Montessori Kindergarten Ilfracombe is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and wellbeing of children and expects all staff and parents to share this commitment. Whilst attendance at the nursery is not a statutory requirement informing staff of your child’s absence is requested by us as part of our safeguarding policies and procedures.  

 

Should your child be unable to attend our setting on their nominated day, we would ask that you give an explanation by phone, text, or email. Children’s attendance will be monitored.

If we do not have an explanation of absence, we will endeavour to contact you as soon as possible.   

 

If we fail to make contact with parents/carers we will be obliged to begin ringing the child’s emergency contacts. Failing this, and if it meets safeguarding criteria, we will report the situation to local authorities.

 

Nurseries are being asked, by local authorities, to ensure that they follow up on all child absences from the first day of absence. This is because nationally there have been tragic cases of children not  turning up at nursery for many reasons ranging from parents falling ill, serious accidents (parent, child or both) with nobody realising for some time. 

 

The aim of the procedure is solely to keep all concerned (child and parents) safe.

This policy reflects the vision and aims of this nursery by:

• Encouraging staff, parents/carers, and children to maximise the learning experience in order that all children reach their full potential.

• Providing clear procedures for involving parents/carers relating to the setting attendance.

PRINCIPLES

 

Regular and punctual attendance is of paramount importance in ensuring that all children have full access to the curriculum. Valuable learning time is lost when children are absent or late- research has shown the negative effect of absence.

 

Children should be at kindergarten, on time, for every session they are booked to attend, unless the reason for the absence is unavoidable, or the correct arrangements have been made. Permitting absence from Montessori Kindergarten Ilfracombe without a good reason must be acted upon by the setting. Children should arrive at the setting 08.30am for morning sessions or 12.30pm for afternoon registration.We will lock the gates at 9am for morning sessions and 1 pm for afternoon sessions.  Notes are recorded on the register as to the reason for the late arrival. If a child is reluctant to attend the setting, communication between parent and nursery is encouraged. 

It is never better to cover up their absence or to give into pressure to excuse them from attending. This gives the impression that attendance does not matter and may make things worse. Every absence must be classified by the setting (not by the parents/carers). Therefore, information about the cause of each absence is always required by the Setting.

 

 

As an Early Years setting, we actively encourage parents to support us in this policy, as our absence statistics are scrutinised by Ofsted and have an impact on the overall judgement a setting is given.

Parents/carers are expected to contact the setting at an early stage and to work with the staff in resolving any problems together.  If difficulties cannot be sorted out in this way, the setting may refer the child to the Children Services.

It is the parents’/ carers’ responsibility to contact the setting either by telephone or text or email whenever the child is absent.

This must be on the first day of absence by 9.30am and subsequently daily.

 

 

THE ROLE OF STAFF

The staff complete a register at the beginning of each morning and afternoon session.   If parents/carers have not explained the reason for absence by 9am, the manager or deputy managers will ring the parent. If no explanation is given then this is classed as unauthorised.

When appropriate, practitioners raise any concerns with the Manager who takes appropriate action when absences are a concern and contacts the parents/carers to discuss attendance issues. 

 

 

PROCEDURES

Absence is either authorised, such as in the case of illness or of religious/cultural observance, holidays or unauthorised, when there is no reason given for such absence or when it is considered that the explanation is unjustified or unreasonable.

Monitoring of these records will take place regularly and letters and/or meetings will be sent/arranged by the setting, including a referral to the Children Services, where necessary.

If absence is a persistent problem a meeting will be arranged at the setting with the parent and Manager.

 

 

 

ARRIVAL TIMES AND LATENESS

At Montessori kindergarten Ilfracombe we are trying to get children ready for school and for life, so it is essential for your child to attend on time.  Registration is 8:30 am for morning sessions or 12:30 pm for afternoon sessions and it is necessary for children to be punctual.  When children arrive late this can disturb our registration and routines so please try to attend as it is good for the children for their routine and they miss out.