The School Day

Coming to school on time everyday is a vital part of any child’s success at Kingsmead. Students should be in school from 9am to 3:30pm - wherever possible - 5 days a week, totalling 32.5 hours per week. 

Attendance

At Kingsmead we believe that for children to achieve their full potential they need to attend regularly and punctually. Children should be at school, on time, every day the school is open, unless the reason for the absence is unavoidable. Medical appointments should be made in the school holidays or outside of school hours wherever possible. 

Parents/carers should contact the school on the first day of a pupil’s absence. They should state the reason for their child’s absence and also the date on which they are expected to return to school. Notification of absence should be by parental note, telephone call or personal contact.

HOLIDAYS IN TERM TIME

Please note that we do not authorise holidays in term time under any circumstances.  Parents &  carers need to ensure that they do not book holidays or flights before term ends or after term has begun. Your child is at risk of losing their place at Kingsmead if you take unauthorised holidays. In recent years we have seen the number of requests for time out of school to visit seriously sick elderly relatives rise massively in the last weeks of July and the first weeks of September. It is impossible for us to distinguish between a true family crisis and those seeking cheaper flights. A false request is morally wrong, a bad example to set children and is unfair on those who do have a genuine need.

Late Arrivals

The parents of children whose attendance or punctuality falls below acceptable levels will be contacted by the school Educational Welfare Officer (EWO).

Our attendance is improving each year and is currently above the average for Hackney schools.