Jeavons Wood Primary School is committed to excellent attendance for every pupil. Strong attendance is closely linked to strong achievement, and being in school every day makes a significant difference to a child’s progress, confidence and wellbeing. We appreciate the many families who support this by ensuring children attend regularly and arrive on time.
Punctuality and regular attendance help children:
- Settle quickly into lessons
- Access key instructions and explanations
- Build confidence and positive learning habits
Arriving late means missing the start of learning and can leave children feeling unsettled or embarrassed.
We understand that deciding whether a child is well enough for school can be difficult. The NHS provides clear guidance to help families make informed decisions.
Common conditions:
- Coughs and colds – Children can attend school with a minor cough or cold. Keep them at home only if they have a fever.
- Cold sores – Children can attend school. Encourage good hygiene and avoid sharing cups or towels.
- Conjunctivitis – Children can attend school. Seek advice from a pharmacist and encourage regular handwashing.
For guidance on other conditions visit the NHS page: Is my child too ill for school?
If your child is unable to attend, please inform the school by 08:30 on each day of absence:
- Phone: 01954 717180 (Option 1)
- Email: office@jeavonswood.org
- ParentHub: Use the absence reporting link
For sickness or diarrhoea, children must remain at home for 48 hours after the last episode. A Public Health England infection control guide is available to download from this page.
The Department for Education states that schools may only authorise planned term‑time absence in exceptional circumstances, such as:
- A close relative’s funeral
- A medical appointment
Term‑time holidays are not considered exceptional and cannot be authorised. Taking holidays during school time disrupts learning, and there is no legal entitlement to do so.
If you need to request leave for an exceptional reason, please complete a Leave of Absence Form available on the left of this page.
Local Authorities—not schools—decide whether to issue fines or pursue prosecution for attendance concerns.
Key points:
- Parents have a legal duty to ensure regular attendance for children aged 5–16.
- Unauthorised term‑time holidays may result in a £60 fine per child, per parent.
- Schools must refer cases of persistent absence to the Local Authority.
The Cam Academy Trust employs an Education Welfare Officer, who works closely with families and the school to support good attendance. Early support is always the aim, but the EWO also has the authority to issue Penalty Notices or pursue legal action if necessary.
The EWO can be contacted via the school reception.
96% attendance
- 8 days of absence per year
- Equivalent to 11 weeks missed over 7 years
95% attendance
- 10 days of absence per year
- 70 days (14 weeks) missed across primary school
90% attendance
- 19 days of absence per year
- 133 days missed (almost three‑quarters of a school year)
Our school target: 97% attendance or above for all pupils