Attendance information for parents of pupils at Rhydyfro Primary School
At Rhydyfro Primary School, we know that good attendance is essential for every child’s learning, progress and wellbeing. When pupils attend regularly, they build strong friendships, develop confidence and make the most of every learning opportunity. We work closely with families to encourage excellent attendance and to offer support whenever challenges arise. By working together, we can ensure that every child enjoys a consistent, happy and successful experience at school.
Attendance Information
Good attendance and punctuality play a vital role in the education of our children at Rhydyfro Primary School. The Welsh Government and school target is for all pupils to achieve a yearly attendance of 95% or above. Regular, unbroken attendance is vitally important in order for your child to reach their full potential.
To help us improve attendance please could you:
- Inform us as soon as possible on the first day of your child's absence from school
- Wherever possible try not to take your child for routine dentist / optician appointments during the school day
- Please ensure your child arrives in school by 8:55 am at the latest. A teacher is on duty on the yard from 8:45 am. All staff come out to welcome the children into school at 8:55 am. On wet mornings, all staff members are in their classrooms by 8:45 am ready to welcome the children into school. In the nursery / reception / Year 1 area the doors open at 8:55 am to welcome the children into school.
Holidays taken during term time will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.
Why attendance matters
“When a child attends school on a regular basis, they take an important step towards reaching their full potential, and are given the greatest opportunity to learn new things and develop their skills.”
Lateness Adds Up!
Being late by 15 minutes every day, will add up to TWO WEEKS of school being missed each year.
Education Welfare Officer (EWO)
Good attendance is intrinsic to achieving the best outcomes possible for individual learners. We have an Educational Welfare Officer (EWO) whose role is to provide help and support to families where regular school attendance is an issue. The EWO is supported by the school office staff who make ‘first day response’ calls/texts to parents of absent pupils.
Penalty Notices
Welsh Government has instructed all Local Authorities to implement Penalty Notices under the Education (Penalty Notice) (Wales) Regulations 2013. The Local Authority believes that any absence from school, for whatever reason, is detrimental to a child’s long term life opportunities, so should be avoided if at all possible. A Penalty Notice is an alternative to prosecution with the aim of seeking to secure an improvement in the child’s attendance at school.
Neath and Port Talbot CBC flyer on penalty notices
Punctuality
Please ensure your child arrives in school by 8:55 am at the latest. A teacher is on duty on the yard from 8:45 am. All staff come out to welcome the children into school at 8:55 am. On wet mornings, all staff members are in their classrooms by 8:45 am ready to welcome the children into school. In the nursery / reception / Year 1 area the doors open at 8:55 am to welcome the children into school.
Any child arriving after 9:25 a.m. is recorded as an unauthorised absence for the morning session. Pupils must enter via the main entrance if they are late. If a child is persistently late, you may be called in for a meeting with the Head Teacher and the Education Welfare Officer.
If you would like further information about attendance contact Rhydyfro Primary School in Pontardawe by calling 01792 862200
