Attendance Matters!
At Carleton Park Junior & Infant School, we place the upmost value and importance on attendance at school.
We want our students to have opportunities and aspirations that extend far beyond the school gates. Providing our students with the best possible life chances starts by providing our students with the opportunities to make strong friendships, developing their character through social skills, having a sense of belonging and safety, and access to high-quality teaching.
Year after year, the students with the best school attendance achieve the best results.
All students at Carleton Park Junior & Infant School are set an attendance target of 97% or above. Students with 97% attendance and above are more likely to:
- Make the best progress in their subjects.
- Develop good habits for work and wider life.
- Achieve higher than average grades in their SATs.
- Maintain strong and sound friendships.
Parents, carers and families are therefore asked to ensure that their child is in school every day of term.
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Attendance Process
If your child is absent from school you must telephone the Attendance Team on the first day of absence before 9.00 am and provide a reason.
- If we do not receive communication, you will receive a phone call home from our dedicated Attendance Officer.
- A home visit may be made depending on the student’s attendance record and the nature of the absence.
When concerns arise, we will contact parents or carers to discuss reasons for absence and offer support. If attendance does not improve, we may arrange meetings, issue formal warning letters, or create attendance improvement plans. Home visits will be conducted by members of the Attendance Team if a student’s attendance is of concern. The purpose of making home visits is to have a conversation with families about their young person’s attendance, complete a safeguarding check and offer support where applicable.
Please be aware that Carleton Park Junior & Infant School works closely with Wakefield Council and will transfer any cases of persistently poor attendance for possible prosecution in either the Family or Magistrates court.
Attendance Policy
Our Attendance Policy aims to improve attendance and punctuality, and sets out how we will achieve this together. A copy of the policy can be accessed via our Policies page.
Rewarding Great Attendance
Attendance Rewards
Maintaining an attendance record is a brilliant achievement and one that we are delighted to reward and celebrate. Each week, if a pupil has 100% attendance, they are entered into a draw and the winner gets to choose a prize from a range of items that are always on display in our hall as a reminder for positive attendance.
At the end of the year, pupils who have 99% attendance also receive a special reward.
Caught Being Good
At Carleton Park, we reward the small things that make a big difference through our Caught Being Good (CGB) initiative. One of our CGBs can be earnt through achieving 96%+ class attendance and pupils earn an end of week treat such as a bag of sweets or small chocolate gift.
We recognise 96% Attendance as being a huge achievement and one that needs significant reward and celebration! These events are for those students that show determination and strive for excellence at school. We do, however, recognise that in some cases, absence from school is unavoidable. Examples include:
- to mark a religious observance.
- to attend a specialist medical appointment related to a lifelong medical condition.
- to grieve for, and attend a funeral of an immediate family member.
In all cases where a parent / carer is seeking an exception to be made, this must be authorised by the Deputy Headteacher.
Working Together
We offer guidance through our attendance officers, pastoral teams, and dedicated staff who can work with you to understand and overcome barriers, Regular communication between home and school ensures concerns are addressed early. Local authorities can also offer support plans and advice. The goal is to work in partnership with our families to create a positive, supportive environment where every child can attend school and thrive.
