At Westbrook Lane, we believe that regular school attendance is essential for children to achieve their full potential. Good attendance helps children build strong friendships, make steady academic progress, and develop positive routines that set them up for success in life.
From August 2024, the Department for Education (DfE) made the Working Together to Improve School Attendance guidance statutory. This means that all schools, local authorities, and key partners are now legally required to follow the expectations outlined in this guidance. As a result, Westbrook Lane Primary School has adopted these processes to ensure every child receives their full educational entitlement.
You can find out more about our approach to attendance in our Attendance Policy.
Reporting Absences
If your child is going to be absent from school:
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Please contact the school office by leaving a Voicemail or messaging on Dojo as soon as possible on the first day of absence.
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Provide a reason for the absence (e.g. illness, appointment).
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Keep us informed each day of the absence.
Appointments and Holidays
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Routine medical or dental appointments should be made outside school hours where possible. If your child has an unavoidable appointment during the school day, please provide evidence of the appointment (e.g. an appointment letter or text confirmation).
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Absences for term-time holidays will not be authorised, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
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All holiday requests must be submitted in writing using the school’s Leave of Absence form.
Working Together to Support Attendance
Our approach is based on support, not punishment. We monitor attendance closely and work with families to understand any challenges. This may include:
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Regular communication and attendance updates.
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Meetings to discuss patterns or concerns.
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Involvement of the Horsforth Cluster Team if persistent absence continues.
