Attendance
Every Nursery Day Matters At Netherton Park Nursery School
Coming to nursery regularly helps children feel safe, settled and part of our nursery school family. It gives them time to build trusting relationships, develop friendships and enjoy all the learning opportunities our rich and exciting curriculum has to offer.
We understand that young children become unwell and that some families experience circumstances that can make regular attendance difficult.
Therefore, we approach attendance sensitively and work in partnership with families to provide support where it is needed.
Why is regular attendance important?
We recognise that children below compulsory school age are not subject to the same statutory attendance requirements as older children. However, when you accept a nursery place at Netherton Park Nursery School, we expect your child to attend their agreed sessions regularly so that they can benefit fully from their place.
Regular nursery attendance helps children to:
* Settle into predictable routines
* Build secure relationships with familiar adults
* Develop friendships with other children
* Grow in confidence and independence
* Develop their communication and language
* Take part in the full nursery curriculum
* Be ready for their next stage of education
When children miss nursery regularly, they can miss important experiences and may find it more difficult to settle back into routines and friendships.
Children should attend all their allocated nursery sessions wherever possible, unless their absence is unavoidable.
Arriving on time helps children enter nursery calmly, join their friends and take part in the full session.
If your child is absent
If your child is unwell or unable to attend, please contact the nursery office on 01384 283687 and choose Option 1 to leave a message. Please do this on the first day of absence. Parents and carers should then contact nursery each day that their child is absent and explain the reason why they will not be attending. This allows us to maintain accurate attendance records and, most importantly, know that your child is safe.
Please do not rely only on telling another parent or member of the nursery community. Contact the nursery directly so that the message reaches the right member of staff.
What happens if we do not hear from you?
If a child does not attend an expected session and we have not received an explanation, we will follow our safeguarding procedures.
These include:
We will telephone the parent or carer. If we are unable to make contact we will contact the other people named on the child’s admission form and ask the family to contact nursery.
If we have still been unable to make contact, the Headteacher or Safeguarding and Pastoral Lead and another member of staff may visit the family home. We may also contact the child’s Health Visitor.
Children who are considered vulnerable: We may contact the child’s Social Worker or undertake a home visit from the first day of unexplained absence.
These procedures are not intended to worry families. They form an important part of our responsibility to safeguard children.
Illness and Medical Appointments
We understand that children need to stay at home when they are unwell. Please let us know:
- The nature of your child’s illness
- When their symptoms began
- Whether they have received medical advice
- When you expect them to return
Where possible, please arrange routine medical and dental appointments outside your child’s nursery sessions. If this is not possible, let the office know in advance and bring your child to nursery before or after the appointment if they are well enough to attend.
If your child becomes unwell during a session, we will contact you. For an illness or injury that is more serious than a minor bump or graze, parents will be informed promptly and may be asked to collect their child.
How we can help
We know that family life can bring unexpected challenges. Transport, housing, health, family circumstances or a child’s additional needs can all affect attendance. Please talk to us if you are experiencing difficulties. We would always prefer to work alongside you before the problem becomes more difficult to manage.
Working together
Good attendance is built through positive relationships between children, families and nursery. By keeping us informed, arriving promptly and speaking to us when you need help, you allow us to provide the right support for your child.
Every session gives your child another opportunity to play, explore, build friendships and shine. By working together, we can help your child feel that they belong and make the very most of their nursery adventure.
Attendance is monitored on a half termly basis by Alison and Jackie and for any child where absence or punctuality is a concern we will follow this up both verbally and in writing. Our expectations for attendance are 95% or above.
Any request for leave during the term time for holidays, extended leave or any other planned leave MUST be made in writing to the Headteacher. Please request a leave during term time request form from your child's Key Worker before the leave is taken.
Attendance Policy
Leave during term time request form
Infectious diseases booklet
Exclusion periods for illnesses
Children and staff who are close contacts of people who are unwell with an infectious disease, or an infection do not usually need to be excluded from Nursery.
If a parent/carer insists on bringing a child to Nursery with symptoms, where they have a confirmed or suspected case of an infectious illness, the Headteacher can take the decision to refuse the child if, in their reasonable judgement, it is necessary to protect other children and staff from possible infections.
Is my child well enough to be in Nursery School?
Introduction
Many parents are unsure whether to send their child into Nursery if they do not seem to be feeling entirely well. Generally, if you are unsure, then we would advise bringing your child into Nursery and letting us know to keep a special eye on them. Staff are very good at spotting when a child does not seem themselves and in the case of illness occurring during the session, you will receive a telephone call asking you to come and collect them.
The guide below is based on Public Health Agency guidance for parents on when a child should or should not be in Nursery and we hope that it will provide some additional Information and reassurance for you.
Fine to be in Nursery
Cold Sores - Your child does not need to be off Nursery. Encourage them not to touch the blister or kiss anyone while they have the cold sore.
Conjunctivitis - Your child does not need to be off Nursery. Do get advice from your pharmacist. Encourage the child not to rub their eyes and to wash their hands regularly.
Coughs and Colds – It is fine to send your child into Nursery if they have a mild cough or cold. Encourage your child to throw away any used tissues, cover their moth when they cough or sneeze and to wash their hands regularly.
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease - Please get this confirmed by a GP. If your child has this but seems well enough to be in Nursery then there Is no reason to keep them off. Encourage your child to throw away any used tissues and to wash their hands regularly.
Head Lice - There is no need for your child to miss Nursery if they have head lice if their hair has been treated. Please also inform their Key Worker (this is very common at nursery age so don't be embarrassed).
Ringworm - If your child has ringworm then it is fine for them to go to Nursery once they have started treatment. You are advised to consult with your GP.
Slapped Cheek Syndrome - You don't need to keep your child at home syndrome because once the rash appears they are no longer infectious. If you suspect your child has this you should take them to the GP and let the Nursery know if diagnosis is confirmed.
Threadworms - You don't need to keep your child at home. Treatment is recommended for your child and household contacts.
Tonsillitis - You don't need to keep your child at home if they have tonsillitis. Most cases are due to viruses and do not need an antibiotic.
Reporting a child's absence
If your child is unwell and cannot attend their session you must let us know.
Please either call main Reception on 01384 283687 between the hours of 8.15am and 3.45pm. We will need to know the following information:
- Child's name
- Group
- Reason for absence
- When you expect them to return
If we haven't heard from parents by 9.00am for the morning session or 1.00pm for the afternoon session then Jackie (Safeguarding and Pastoral Lead) will call to check all is ok.