Attendance

School Day Start & Registration

• School gates open at 8:45 am and close at 9:00 am. The register is taken at 9:00 am.
• Children arriving after 9:00 am must enter through the school office, sign in, and give a valid reason for lateness.
• Children arriving after 9:30 am may receive an unauthorised mark, which counts against their attendance.

How to Report Absence or Lateness

• Email: absences@kingscrossacademy.org.uk – please include your child’s name, class, reason for absence, and expected return date.
• Call: 020 7504 0533 – give your child’s name, class, reason for absence, and expected return date. Please call every day your child is off school.
• Arbor: use the reporting feature to tell us why your child is unwell and will not be in school (please note, we may require evidence).

If we do not hear from you, we will contact you that morning (First Day Response).  On return, we may request a note or medical evidence if appropriate.

Authorised vs Unauthorised Absence
Authorised absence may be given for:

• Genuine illness (with medical evidence if requested)
• Dental/medical appointments (where out‑of‑school hours is not possible)
• Recognised religious observance
• Exceptional circumstances agreed in advance by the Headteacher

To request an absence, please fill in an ‘Exceptional leave request form’ available from the office. Please return it to the school at least two weeks before the requested leave date.
Unauthorised absence includes:

• Holidays taken during term time without permission
• Arriving after the register closes without good reason
• Unexplained absence

Please note: Unauthorised absences can lead to further action (see ‘Legal Responsibilities & Penalty Notices’ below).

Punctuality and Its Importance
Arriving on time means your child is ready for registration, starts the day calm and settled, and doesn’t miss vital teaching moments.  If your child arrives late regularly, it disrupts the class, makes your child feel unsettled, and may be recorded as unauthorised absence under persistent lateness rules.

We monitor punctuality and will contact you if there are repeated late arrivals so we can work together to support improvement.

Routine, Sleep and Morning‑Time Tips
A good night’s sleep and healthy morning routine help children arrive refreshed and ready for their day. Here are some helpful tips:

• Set a consistent bed‑time that gives your child 9–11 hours sleep (age dependent)
• Avoid screens at least 30 minutes before bed; keep the bedroom calm, dark and cool
• Prepare the school bag, uniform, and lunch the evening before so mornings are less rushed
• Leave home in good time so your child doesn’t arrive stressed or late

Legal Responsibilities & Penalty Notices
As a parent/carer, you have a legal duty to make sure your child attends school regularly and punctually.

Penalty Notices and legal sanctions:

• The local authority may issue a Penalty Notice when:
  • A child has 10 unauthorised absences within a 10‑week period (one day off = two absences)
  • A term‑time holiday is taken without permission
  • Under the London Borough of Camden protocol, parents/carers may receive fines.
  • The fines are currently £80 if paid within 21 days, rising to £160 if paid within 28 days. This is per parent, per child. Unpaid Notices may lead to prosecution.
  • If a case goes to court, a fine of up to £2,500, a community order, or eve imprisonment (for serious persistent offences) may be imposed.
  • Holidays in term time are not authorised. The Headteacher may only authorise leave in truly exceptional circumstances.

We always aim to support families first, not penalise. But we must work within the law because regular attendance is vital for your child’s success and wellbeing.

Monitoring, Support & Next Steps
We monitor attendance and punctuality daily and will contact parents if patterns of lateness or absence begin to emerge.  If your child’s attendance falls below our expectations, we will invite you to meet with the Attendance & Medical Officer to explore support solutions.

We share each student’s attendance rate in the end‑of‑year report and in parent-teacher interviews. We celebrate class attendance through our weekly celebration assembly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can I take my child out for a holiday in term time?
A: Generally, no. Term time holidays are not authorised except in truly exceptional circumstances. Taking a holiday without permission may result in an unauthorised absence and a Penalty Notice.

Q: If my child has a medical appointment during school time, will that be authorised?
A: We request that appointments are made outside school hours where possible. If not, please bring evidence of the appointment (letter/email) and your child should come into school either before or after the appointment if possible.

Q: What if my child is late because of transport or siblings?
A: Please let us know the reason as soon as possible and call the office. We will work with you to identify solutions so lateness does not become a pattern.

Q: Who do I speak to if I’m worried about my child’s attendance?
A: Our Attendance & Medical Officer, Karen Gosling, can be contacted at karen.gosling@kingscrossacademy.org.uk