Policy Statement
Good attendance plays a fundamental role in supporting children’s educational achievement, wellbeing, and safety. Establishing regular routines for young children supports the settling-in process and enhances their sense of security and belonging.
Even if a child only has a part-time place, regular attendance remains especially important. Attending an Early Years Setting helps children develop habits of regular attendance and punctuality, supporting a smooth and positive transition to reception.
This policy outlines the procedures in place to promote and monitor attendance within Forest Village Kindergarten and the steps that will be followed if a child is absent. It also explains the importance and benefits of regular attendance.
Why Attending Nursery Matters
If your child attends an Early Years Setting, it provides a valuable opportunity for their learning and development to give them the best possible start in life. Regular attendance helps your child:
- Build strong routines and get ready for their next stage of learning and school
- Develop social skills and make friends
- Learn through play and structured activities
- Benefit from consistent support from staff
Promoting Good Attendance At Forest Village Kindergarten
To ensure every child benefits fully from their early education, we are committed to promoting regular attendance and punctuality. We will:
- Communicate clearly with parents and carers about the importance of regular attendance
- Unexplained absences will be followed up promptly to ensure child safety and to identify any support needs in line with our whole school attendance policy
- Maintain accurate attendance records to monitor and evaluate patterns of absence and lateness, allowing us to respond effectively to any concerns
Parents/carers are expected to:
- Ensure regular and punctual attendance. Children should attend consistently and arrive on time (by 9am for AM children and 1.00pm for PM children) to benefit fully from the learning and social experiences provided. Establishing a routine helps children feel secure and supports their development. To ensure the high quality of care to all children, and to minimise disturbing the routine for others, we have the authority to refuse your child entry.
- Notify the setting of absences promptly: If a child is unable to attend, parents/carers must inform the setting on the first day of absence by no later than 8.00am and provide a clear reason. This helps maintain accurate records and ensures the child’s safety.
- If there are concerns for consistently arriving late, parents/carers should speak to a member of staff and work collaboratively in order to identify any barriers and agree on strategies to support improvement.
Monitoring Attendance
Daily attendance registers: Staff must complete registers each day, accurately recording both attendance and times of arrival and departure. Staff are not permitted to sign children out BEFORE they have been collected. This ensures accurate information in case of any emergency and helps to support any instances of late collection.
Weekly monitoring of patterns: Attendance data will be reviewed weekly to identify any emerging patterns of absence or lateness, to intervene early where necessary to support the child.
Communication with families: Where concerns are identified, staff will engage with parents/carers to discuss the issue, understand any underlying causes, and offer appropriate support.
Escalation of persistent issues: If attendance or punctuality does not improve despite initial support, concerns may be escalated to the relevant professionals. This ensures that families receive the help they need.
Responding To Absence
Day 1: If a child is absent and no contact has been received, staff will attempt to contact the parent/carer. If there is no response, staff will then make contact with emergency contacts.
Ongoing absence: If absence continues without explanation, further contact will be made and may involve home visits.
Long-term absence: For extended absences (e.g. Long-term illness), regular contact will be maintained, and a return-to-setting plan may be developed.
Emergency Contacts
We kindly ask families to provide more than two emergency contacts where possible. This helps us carry out thorough welfare checks if a child is absent and we haven’t been able to make contact. Our priority is always your child’s safety and wellbeing, and having additional contacts ensures we can respond quickly and appropriately if needed.
Parent/Carer Consent
I, …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. have read and understood the above and agree to the terms laid out.
Signed……………………………..……………………………………………………………….
Print name………………………..……………………………………………………………….
Date ………………………………..……………………………………………………………….