Attendance
Attendance and Absence
Regular attendance is extremely important and plays a key role in helping children achieve their full potential. At Kettering Park Infant Academy, we expect all pupils to achieve 95% attendance or above wherever possible. Good attendance helps children build confidence, make progress in their learning, develop friendships, and enjoy all aspects of school life.
Reporting an Absence
If your child is absent due to illness, please notify the school office as soon as possible.
Telephone: 01536 481922
Email: kpia-admin@kpia.inmat.org.uk
A 24-hour answering service is available, allowing parents and carers to report an absence at any time. Messages are checked regularly by the school office.
Attendance Matters!
A child with 90% attendance may appear to have good attendance, but this actually means:
- Missing approximately half a day of school every week
- Missing around four weeks of learning over an academic year
High attenders are often high attainers. Every day in school counts.
Why Regular Attendance Matters
Children who attend school regularly are more likely to:
- Reach their full academic potential
- Keep up with lessons and learning
- Develop positive friendships
- Build confidence and resilience
- Prepare for future education and employment
- Develop good habits for adult life
The Impact of Poor Attendance
When children miss school regularly, they:
- Miss important lessons and learning opportunities
- Can fall behind their peers academically
- May struggle in assessments and tests
- Find it harder to maintain friendships
- Miss out on wider school experiences
Persistent absence may also result in involvement from the Local Authority's Education Entitlement Officer.
Illness and Attendance
We understand that children will occasionally be unable to attend school due to illness. However, where possible, children should attend school if they are well enough to take part in normal daily activities.
If you are unsure whether your child should attend school, please contact the school office for advice.
Term-Time Leave
The school does not authorise holidays during term time.
There is no automatic entitlement for parents and carers to take children out of school during term time. Requests for leave will only be considered in exceptional circumstances, and family holidays would not normally be regarded as exceptional.
Penalty Notices
Unauthorised term-time leave may result in a Penalty Notice being issued by the Local Authority.
The initial Penalty Notice is:
£60 per parent, per child
For example, a family with two parents and two children could receive fines totalling £240.
Punctuality
Arriving at school on time is just as important as regular attendance.
Being punctual helps children:
- Start the day calmly and positively
- Avoid missing registration
- Access learning from the beginning of lessons
- Maintain good attendance records
- Avoid disrupting the learning of others
School Hours
Children are expected to attend school during the following hours:
Reception
8:50am to 3:10pm
Year 1 and Year 2
8:40am to 3:00pm
Arrangements for Arrival and Collection
To support the safety of all pupils and families, the school operates a one-way system during drop-off and collection times.
- Enter the school site via the gate on Wood Street
- Exit via the gates on Park Avenue
Adverse Weather
Bad weather is not normally a reason for school closure.
Children should attend school unless the school has formally announced a closure. Information regarding school closures can be found through Northamptonshire's school closure service.
Support with Attendance
If there are circumstances affecting your child's attendance, please speak to:
- Your child's Class Teacher
- The Family Support Worker
We are committed to working with families to ensure every child attends school regularly and feels supported.
