Days and times:

The school day starts at 9:00am.  The school gates open at 8:55am. Children arriving after 9:00am will have to go to the office to get their registration mark, which will be recorded as late.

School finishes at 3.30pm. 

Children are in school for a total of 32.5 hours per week.

Please see link School holiday and term dates | Nottinghamshire County Council for holidays and term dates.  You can request a copy of the school year calendar directly from the office.  As well as the school holidays and bank holidays, there are a number of inset days each year.

What does Priory do to promote school attendance?

A lot!  All Priory staff take attendance really seriously, and we all believe that simply being at school really matters.  Our main aim is to promote and foster this culture: that each child's education - and each and every single day at school - is really important.

We have an Attendance Team, an Attendance Officer and designated pupil Special Attendance Officers who all take a lead on getting attendance right.  We reward children with good school attendance.  Prizes are awarded to children who manage to keep their absence to an absolute minimum.  These prizes change each year to keep them exciting and fresh.  Prizes include: badges, visits to the cinema and class trips to the Galleries of Justice to name a few. 

What if my child is ill or unable to come to school?

Parents/carers know their child best!  All children might miss school from time to time, so here are a few things to remember:

• Please notify the school office as soon as possible if your child is going to be absent.
• If your child is not feeling 100%, and you believe they may be able to manage their day at school, please bring them in, notify a member of staff, and we will monitor them to see if their symptoms worsen, contacting you if they need to return home. 
• Medical professionals can offer advice about whether your child needs to be off school, and on occasion we may request evidence of this. 
• There is specific advice about some illnesses and guidance in relation to the time a child needs away from school – the office will inform you of this when reporting your child's absence.
• If your child is going to be absent from school for any other reason than illness, please inform the office, who will advise you if their absence is authorised or not.
• Our Attendance Officer, Tom Buckmaster may visit you and your child at home.

What if I would like my child to miss school for a religious celebration?

At Priory, we really value and respect all of our children’s faiths and religions.  In agreement with the Local Authority and religious leaders, we will authorise one day off school for each recognised religious celebration or festival, and up to three such absences in any school year.  Please notify the school office beforehand if you intend to take your child out of school for the day.

What if I would like to take my child out of school for another reason?

You will need to complete a Leave of Absence Request Form as soon as you know your plans.  If you fail to do this, the school may have to report your child to the Local Authority as Missing from Education, and we are more likely to request a Penalty Notice through a referral to the Education Welfare Service.

The government has determined that schools should not authorise absences unless there are exceptional circumstances.  The school’s Attendance Policy and the Parents/Carers Summary both give more details on this.  We will always try to meet with families to discuss any requests and decisions made, but you should be aware that a penalty notice may be issued when children miss school and absences are unauthorised.

For further information, please see our Attendance Policy under the Policy section on our website.

What if a child has low attendance?

The government expect children to have school attendance of 96%.

The Local Authority regards any child with attendance below 90% as a persistent absentee.  We regularly review all cases where attendance has fallen below 90%.  Parents/carers will be invited in to school to meet with our Attendance Officer - this is an opportunity for you to share what concerns you might have, and discuss support you feel you may need from us.  An Attendance Improvement Plan will be agreed and attendance will continue to be monitored until improved.  If there is no improvement, the school begins to take further action.  This could include a referral to the Education Welfare Service, which could lead to a Penalty Notice or in extreme cases even court action.  We always look to work collaboratively with parents and carers.