Attendance at The Orion 

The Facts

• ALL children should be in school EVERYDAY
• HOLIDAYS MUST NOT be taken in term time. Doing so can result in a fine of £160 PER CHILD, PER PARENT

Absence & Illness

Attendance is very important here at The Orion! All children should attend school EVERYDAY. If your child is unwell and cannot attend school, you must inform us by leaving a message on the absence line BEOFRE 8.30am on the first day of absence. The government says the average child is unlikely to be ill more than 8 days a year! If you child has a minor illness such as a slight cough or cold please still bring them to school and we will contact you to collect if their condition worsens.

If your child is absent due to illness, we may ask to see a Doctor’s note, appointment card or prescription. If you are unsure whether your child is well enough to attend school please speak to Lucy in the office or Sarah D in the medical room for advice.

Lateness and punctuality

It is vital children arrive at school every day on time. This is essential for their learning as the first part of their lessons prepares them for the work given. It is very disturbing for a class when children arrive late to a lesson.

The school gate is open from 8.30am – 8.45am and children should be in their classroom ready to learn by 8.40am. 

The Orion offers a breakfast club starting from 7.30am. If you feel this would be a helpful option to get your child to school and avoid them being late, please speak to Gill at breakfast club.

Appointments

Any appointments where possible, should be made after school or during school holidays. If your child has an appointment during the school day, you MUST inform the school office in advance. Hospital letters/appointment cards will need to be shown to Lucy or Sarah D. If possible your child should still attend school either before or after the appointment. Please be aware we are unable to authorise sibling absences due to this.

The After School Hub can help with this. For example, if one of your children has an afternoon appointment, their siblings can stay in the After School Hub between 3pm – 6pm. Please speak to the office about booking a space. The Hub can also be used to avoid your child missing school if you yourself have an appointment as this will not be authorised.

Holidays

Family holidays MUST NOT be taken during term time. We are only able to authorise time off school for exceptional circumstances. Proof will need to be provided. Please be aware permission for absence can only be granted for a short period. You must request absence by sending an email to office@orion.barnetmail.net before booking any tickets. Please ensure you include any relevant documents. If your request for absence is not agreed, you may be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice from LB Barnet of £160 per child, per parent.  

The Orion Primary is supported by our Education Welfare Officer who regularly visits our

school to help monitor attendance. If your child's attendance level drops below 95%, they may contact you to discuss this further.