Attendance
Every minute, every hour and every lesson counts.
Meet the Attendance Team
The School Day
Children from Reception to Year 6 are welcomed to start their school day at 8am in our FREE breakfast club. In breakfast club, children have the chance to eat a tasty breakfast (warm or cold); socialise with their friends and check in with members of the Pastoral Team.
The school day starts at 8:40am (Year 1 to Year 6) and 8:45am (Early Years). All children are expected in school on time, every day. If children arrive to school late, they will receive a 'U' code. Being late to school impacts children's attendance as a 'U' code counts as one full session missed.
For children who attend afternoon Nursery, the school day starts at 12:15pm.
We Celebrate Good Attendance!
Autumn Term Reward - Orchard's Festive Fire Pit
Spring Term Reward - Orchard's Easter Egg Hunt
What do our children say about coming to school?
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I report my child's absence?
If your child is unable to attend school, please let us know by calling the school office on 01924 469578 before 8:50am. If it is easier to call earlier, you can leave a message on the attendance line answering machine. A member of the attendance team will return calls to check in and offer an suitable advice or support.
Should I send my child to school?
We would love to see your child in school every day they are well enough, however we understand that sometimes they are not well enough. If your child has a stomach bug, please keep them at home for 48 hours. This allows for the bug to pass and means they can return comfortably. There are many minor illnesses that can be treated with pain relief and means your child can still attend school. With written consent (paper or online), we can administer pain relief throughout the day to make sure your child is comfortable. If you are unsure as to whether your child can attend school. please give us a call or check out the following NHS website:
NHS - Is my child too ill for school
How do I request a term time holiday?
We ask that parents/carers try to avoid booking holidays and events during term time. We know that missing days causes children to miss important learning and time with their friends. Some children struggle to return to school following a holiday, as they are anxious about what they've missed. If you do need to request a term time holiday, please complete a 'Holiday Request Form'. These can be collected and returned to the main office. All applications will be considered on an individual basis.
What if my child has an injury or mobility difficulties?
If your child has an injury or mobility difficulties, please contact the school office to arrange a meeting with Miss Hirst. In this meeting, we will discuss the support and adaptations your child needs in order to return to school comfortably. We are required to complete a risk assessment to ensure the safety of your child on site and we can only do this if you let us know in advance of their return to school.
How can the Academy help me to improve my child's attendance?
Attendance is everyone's responsibility and all staff at Orchard are committed to supporting families to have the best attendance possible. To make sure we can offer the right help at the right time, please let us know of any issues you or your child have around attending school. We can make sure the right member of staff supports your family both in and out of school. Examples of ways we can support are: developing good routines before school; setting up check ins with pastoral staff throughout the day and arranging individual reward systems.
Home Visits
If your child is absent from school, we may complete a home visit. These home visits will be conducted by members of the attendance team and/or senior leadership team. Our home visits are a supportive tool to offer help and advice to parents/carers and to let children know we are missing them and look forward to their return. Sometimes we may complete home visits if we do not receive any information as to why your child is absent from school. We have a legal responsibility to make sure you and your child are safe so please support us by keeping in regular contact.
Useful Links
Please see below useful links where you will find further information about our approach to attendance at Orchard Primary Academy and to useful Kirklees Local Authority information. Click to access.