Attendance

Yew Tree Primary School seeks to ensure that all its pupils receive a full-time education which maximises opportunities for each pupil to realise his/her true potential.  The school will strive to provide a welcoming, caring environment, whereby each member of the school community feels wanted and secure. All school staff will work with pupils and their families to ensure each pupil attends school regularly and punctually.

The school will establish an effective system of incentives and rewards that acknowledges the efforts of pupils to improve their attendance and timekeeping and will challenge the behaviour of those pupils and parents who give low priority to attendance and punctuality.

To meet these objectives Yew Tree Primary School will establish an effective and efficient system of communication with pupils, parents and appropriate agencies to provide mutual information, advice and support. 

Punctuality

Pupils can come into school from 8.40am and the school day starts promptly at 8.50 a.m. If a child arrives at school after 8.50 a.m. without prior arrangements having been agreed, he/she will be deemed late.  Registers close at 9.20 a.m. and arrival at school after this time, without prior approval or extenuating circumstances, will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.

Pupils arriving at school after 8.50 a.m. must enter through the main gates and report to the school office to be signed in by an adult. Pupils leaving school for any reason must report to the office before they go so that we can ensure that they are appropriately chaperoned and signed out.  Registers are also taken when the children return to classes after lunch. Unexplained absences will be investigated by the attendance officer.

As part of Sandwell Local Authority, we work closely with the School Attendance Support Service to ensure that all children are attending school regularly. Information about this service is available by clicking the link below:

Leave of Absence Procedures

As detailed in our Attendance Policy, and in line with DfE guidance, we do not authorise leave of absence during term other than when exceptional circumstances permit. If you wish to take your child out of school, during term time, it is important to discuss this with us as much in advance as possible so we can guide you through the process. 

However, where absence is unauthorised, it could lead to further action being taken including a penalty notice being issued. Department for Education information regarding this is available by CLICKING HERE. 

In 2024/25, we are running a new attendance strategy called "Be in to Win...!" Each child has an attendance passport which they will collect stamps in. All they need to do, to collect stamps, is be at school on time.

Children will collect one stamp for each week that they have 100% attendance (so it is important to not be late) and they can save these stamps/trade them in at our Attendance Shop which opens at the end of each half term.

School Avoidance

If your child exhibits 'school avoidance', please do contact our Attendance Lead at school so that we can work with you and your child to support them in attending.