Attendance
At Wensum Junior School we place great importance on good attendance and punctuality. Please support the school in this by ensuring that your child attends school regularly and arrives ready to learn and on time.
For a child to reach their full educational achievement a high level of school attendance is essential. There is a clear and proven link between low attendance and academic outcomes with pupils who regularly miss out on learning at risk of falling significantly behind their peers. Children who attend frequently are also more likely to build strong, positive friendships. We promote good attendance through class and individual awards.
Our attendance target for all children is to be in school for 96% of the school year. We monitor attendance and contact parents when attendance has fallen, even when there are genuine reasons for absence. We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise, and there might be genuine reasons for absences including illness. However, it is essential to emphasise the importance of consistent attendance. We want to work with you to address any barriers to school attendance. If attendance remains a concern, you may be invited to meet with the school Attendance Lead to discuss the issues further and create an Attendance Support Plan together.
Our Attendance Team
Our Senior Attendance Champion is Mrs Peachment. Miss Glen works with families to improve attendance. If you are having difficulties regarding attendance, please talk to a member of school staff. We want to work together to ensure your child attends regularly.
Punctuality
The school gates open at 8.30am. The school day begins at 8.35am.
Registers are taken promptly at 8.50am. We expect all children to be in the classroom by this time and ready to start their day.
All pupils arriving after this time are required to report to the main office with their parent/carer, who will be expected to provide a reason for their absence which will be recorded on their attendance record. If their arrival is before 9.20am it will be recorded as late - L code (Late before the close of register). The school register will officially close at 9.20am. All pupils arriving on or after this time will be marked as having an unauthorised absence for the morning session - U code (Late after the close of register) and this counts as an absence.
Late marks (L and U codes) are monitored by our office team, and you will be informed in writing if your child has 3 more late arrivals in school.
Absence Procedures
Parents must inform the school office before 8:30am; leaving a message on the school absence line (01603 620877). If you are unable to speak directly to a member of the School Office, they must leave a voice message stating your child’s name, class, reason for absence and when the child is expected to return. Remember to contact the school on every further day of absence, again before 8.30am.
Sometimes, it can be tricky to decide whether or not to keep your child off school, when they're unwell. The NHS has produced guidance to support parents: Is my child too ill for school? - NHS
Please be advised that the school has made a decision to allow children to return 24 hours after the last bout of sickness or diarrhea, providing they are well.
If your child is absent from school and we do not hear from you with a valid reason regarding your child's absence, the session will be marked as unauthorised. Birthdays, shopping for uniform, having no one to bring them to school are not valid reasons. Unauthorised absences can be counted towards Fixed Penalty Notices issued by Norfolk County Council (please see more information below).
We expect that routine medical appointments such as dentists, opticians, doctors etc are made outside of school hours where possible. If you have an unavoidable appointment in school time we will authorise one session of absence for that appointment (one registration session, either am or pm).
A home visit may be made regardless of whether contact has been established as part of our safeguarding procedures.
Term-time absence
Permission for term-time absence will only be authorised if there are exceptional circumstances. A request form must be submitted to the Headteacher via the school office with full details of the exceptional reasons why a child needs to be absent from school. The Headteacher will respond to all requests.
Medicines in School
If your child is prescribed medicine from your GP we are more than happy to accommodate this. Please come to the school office to complete a medication form, informing staff of the timing and dosage and leave this and the medicine with the school office.
Fixed Penalty Notices
There is a single consistent national threshold for when a penalty notice must be considered by all schools in England of 10 sessions (usually equivalent to 5 school days) of unauthorised absence within a rolling 10 school week period. These sessions do not have to be consecutive and can be made up of a combination of any type of unauthorised absence. The 10-school week period can span different terms or school years. Penalty Notice Fines are issued to each parent, for each child that was absent. For example: 3 siblings absent for term time leave, would result in each parent receiving 3 separate fines.
Parents and guardians are legally required to ensure their children are in school every day. When parents have not engaged with Attendance Support offered by the school or attendance has failed to improve, this can result in referring the matter to the local authority for legal sanctions.
Useful links
Norfolk County Council - School Attendance
Attendance Procedures Appendix A
Just One Norfolk- School Attendance
Penalty notice regarding school absence - Parents Guidance 2025-2026