Every Day Counts

At Barwick-in-Elmet Church of England Primary School attendance and punctuality are extremely important to us. Every day at school counts. We believe in supporting a child’s right to be in school to receive their statutory entitlement to education. There is a clear relationship between children’s achievement, behaviour and attendance. As a school we will challenge any attendance under 95%. This year we have worked hard to improve attendance and punctuality. If your child is not registered in school you will receive a text message to make you aware you need to contact the school to report an absence. All absence must be followed up with a note explaining why your child was absent.

Exceptional Leave

Parents do not have the right to take their child out of school during term time. By law you must ask permission for your child to miss school. If you fail to gain the school’s permission you risk receiving a fixed penalty fine. The fine applies to each child for which permission has been refused. Barwick in Elmet Church of England Primary School has agreed to follow the government policy on absence during term time. Good attendance leads to improved outcomes for your child.

If you would like to apply for permission for your child to be absent from school you must complete an exceptional leave request form and return it to the school for authorisation at least 10 school days in advance of the proposed leave.

The School Day

The school gate opens at 8.30am pupils from Year 1 to Year 6 make their own way to their classroom. Reception and Nursery pupils walk down with their parents. Classroom doors open at 8.40 am to ensure that children are in class ready for registration at 8.45am. There is one morning playtime between 10.15am-10.30am.  The reception children have continuous outdoor provision so they do not join in playtime breaks until the Summer term. Lunchtime starts at 12.00pm with afternoon lessons starting at 1.00pm.

School ends at 3.15pm, children are released by staff from their classroom door. We ask parents arrive on time, children do become very upset if their parent is not there to meet them. If there is any change of routine at the end of the day, if someone else is collecting your child please let us know in advance.

Teaching time in a normal week, exclusive of registration, collective worship and break times is  a total of 24 hours 10 minutes.