At Beckfoot Upper Heaton, we understand that barriers to accessing education are wide and complex, both within and beyond the school gates, and are often specific to individual pupils and families. We therefore want to ensure that we support our pupils and their families to attend school regularly by making Beckfoot Upper Heaton a place where pupils want to be. We are committed to creating an environment that is calm, safe and supportive, where all students can enjoy belonging, be ready to learn, and be determined to succeed.
Our Expectations
- Students will attend school every day
- Students will be on time to school and their lessons
- Students will always be prepared for school by having enough sleep, wearing the correct uniform, and having the right equipment
Students meeting these expectations will achieve well, be protected from risk of harm, and secure and maintain positive friendships with their peers at school.
Attendance and Punctuality Policy
Key contacts
Attendance is everyone’s business, and all members of our staff understand they they have a role to play in supporting good attendance. To learn more about our key contacts roles and responsibilities, please view our local attendance protocol.
- Zahid Iqbal – Senior Attendance Champion [email protected]
- Laura Newombe – SENCO [email protected]
- Aneesa Hussain – Designated Safeguarding Lead [email protected]
- Uzair Shah – Attendance Officer [email protected]
- Louise Nutton – Attendance Officer [email protected]
- Biman Dey – Headteacher [email protected]
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What do I do if my child is not well enough to come to school?
Every day counts in a child’s academic life, a missed school day is a lost opportunity for students to learn. The connection between student attendance and academic outcomes is directly linked. To give your child the best opportunity to succeed in life, please send them to school every day no later than 8.05.
We understand that from time to time, children become ill, and it is unavoidable that they have to stay at home. We hope that these occasions are are, but when they happen, please phone school before 8am on the student absence reporting line, phone 01274 493533 and selection option 1. Or email us at [email protected]. You can also report child absence via the MyEd app ‘absence messages’.
When a child is absent and no reason has been provided by the parent or carer, contact will be made by the attendance team to establish the whereabouts of the pupil. All available emergency contacts may be called so that we can ensure that our learner is safe and to offer signposts to necessary support if required. Home visits may be carried out for safeguarding checks and to offer support where needed.
Our Attendance Team work really hard to support students and often identify patterns of non-attendance. They will always work with parents and carers to understand these patterns and see how they can be improved.
We recognise that there may be occasions where considerations must be made for any young person who may have a disability or specific circumstances. Reasonable adjustments will be made and implemented where deemed necessary. Please view our Trust Medical Needs Policy to learn more about how we identify and remove any barriers to attendance.
Medical and dental appointments
Medical and dental appointments should be made before or after school wherever possible, however, if an appointment is required during school hours, school should be made aware in advance and their must be provision of some evidence to authorise the absence.
Holidays in term time
Holidays in term times will not be authorised by Beckfoot Upper Heaton and could lead to penalty notices and fines being issued. These will be issued to the parent/carer liable for the attendance offence.
Punctuality
Students must be in school by 8.15am at the very latest, the school gates will close every day at 8.20am. The first register is taken in our Morning Meetings. Any student who arrives after registration will receive a late mark, and any students who arrive more than 30 minutes late will be marked as an unauthorised absence unless a suitable reason is provided.
We understand that sometimes children may be late due to unforeseen circumstances, learners will always receive a friendly welcome when they get to school late. Please alert as soon as possible if you think your child is going to be late.
Recognising good attendance at Beckfoot Upper Heaton
- Students are informed weekly of their attendance levels
- Headteacher rewards
- Whole school reward activities
- Weekly assemblies with rewards for those who have achieved 100% attendance
We believe that all students are more likely to attend school regularly if the curriculum is engaging and personalised to meet their needs, and if they have targets and rewards to work towards.
How will we support you?
- We will build close and productive relationships with families to ensure that any attendance issues can be tackled and any barriers to attendance are removed.
- Creating intervention or reintegration plans in partnership with our pupils and their parents/carers.
- Encourage good attendance by making our classrooms and school a place where all pupils can and want to be.