Attendance

Here at St Margaret's at Troy Town we promote excellent attendance to enable pupils to take full advantage of the educational opportunities we offer.

Every day counts - we aim for at least 96% attendance across the school year.

We ask parents to ensure that children arrive at school in good time for registration each day.

Gates open at 8:40am and close promptly at 8:50am.

The school day begins at 8:50am and all children should be in class, ready to learn by this time.  Children arriving after 8:50am must be signed in at the office by an adult, and a reason for lateness given.

Members of SLT will be available every morning to pass on quick messages, however we do ask that if you need to speak to your child’s class teacher then you either wait until pick up time after all of the other children have been dismissed or that you phone school to make an appointment to speak to your child’s class teacher.
We understand that sometimes in the mornings things happen unexpectedly, however it is very important that children attend school on time, so that children are settled in class with their friends and so that they do not miss the start of lessons. Missing the beginning of lessons can often unsettle children, so we ask that you make every effort to ensure that your child gets here on time.

At our school the staff, parents and children recognise that attendance and punctuality are vitally important for a number of reasons, all of which can affect children's learning, achievement and social and emotional development. It is very challenging to catch up on missed work and learning opportunities.

School finishes at 3:15pm and it is your parental responsibility to ensure that your child is collected promptly every day or that they are booked into our after school club provision in advance. 
Just a reminder if you are unable to collect your child yourself, then please make sure that you have informed us by telling your child’s class teacher in advance or by phoning the school office on 01634 843843.

We will not allow children to go home with another adult unless we have been informed and we will contact you to clarify arrangements before releasing your child.

Lynne, our Pastoral Manager is always happy to offer support should any parents or carers have any concerns. 

Reporting Absence

In the event of an unplanned absence, we ask that you follow these steps:

1. Contact the school: on the day of the absence, please call the school office on 01634 843843 as soon as practically possible, but before 9am to inform us about your child's absence
2. Provide a reason for absence: please provide a brief explanation for the absence, such as illness or family emergency, to help us maintain accurate records

It is also your responsibility to notify us on each day that your child is absent. If we do not hear from you, then we will make a phone call to the main contact number; a text message may also be sent. These procedures are to ensure that we know where your child is and that you are all safe.

Acceptable reasons for absence
We recognise that there are circumstances where a pupil's absence can't be avoided.
Acceptable reasons for being absent from school include:
- Illness: when your child is unwell, either physically or mentally, and unable to attend school
- Medical appointments: if your child has a medical appointment that cannot be scheduled outside school hours, please notify us in advance and provide relevant documentation (e.g. an appointment card)

- Religious observance: we respect the diverse cultural and religious backgrounds of our pupils. If your child needs to be absent for religious observance, please submit a request and the headteacher will review it
- Exceptional circumstances: in exceptional situations, such as family emergencies or unforeseen events, please contact the school immediately to discuss the absence

Holidays in Term Time

Holidays in Term Time are not authorised except in exceptional circumstances. Taking children out of school for holidays may result in a fine from the Local Authority. If you need support please contact Lynne (Attendance Manager) or Miss Willis (Headteacher). We are here to help you and work with you to improve attendance.

Did you know …?
A two week holiday in term time means that the highest attendance a child can achieve is 94.7%

attendance letter sept 2025.pdf

By working together in close partnership, we can support every child to attend well and thrive in line with our Christian vision, “Let your light shine” , and if you ever need advice or support with attendance, please do not hesitate to speak to Lynne, our Pastoral Manager, who is always happy to help.