Lateness

Punctuality and Lateness

Good punctuality helps children to begin the school day calmly, feel settled and ready to learn, and make the most of every part of their education. Arriving late can mean missing important routines, instructions and learning at the beginning of the day.

At Christleton Primary School, our gates are open from 8:40am until 8:50am. Children should arrive during this period and be in school ready for registration at 8:50am, when the school day begins.

What happens if my child is late?

The Department for Education requires schools to record and monitor lateness carefully.

• Arrival after 8:50am but before 9:05am: your child will be recorded as late (Code L). They are still recorded as attending school for that morning session.

• Arrival after 9:05am: the morning register has closed. Where there is no reason for the lateness that should be recorded using another attendance code, your child will be recorded as late after the register has closed (Code U). Code U is recorded statistically as an unauthorised absence for the morning session.

The DfE requires schools to state clearly when their registers close and to actively monitor patterns of late arrival.

Why does this matter?

A few minutes of lateness can quickly add up. Regularly arriving late can mean that a child misses the start of lessons and important classroom routines, as well as making it more difficult for them to settle into their learning.

Arrivals after the register has closed are particularly important because Code U counts as an unauthorised absence. Repeated unauthorised absences, including lateness after the register has closed, can contribute towards the national threshold at which a Penalty Notice must be considered.

If punctuality becomes a concern

We recognise that there can sometimes be genuine difficulties which make getting to school on time more challenging.

Where we notice a pattern of lateness, we will contact parents or carers to discuss what is happening, understand any barriers and agree how we can work together to improve punctuality.

Where lateness continues despite support, the school may need to take further action in line with our Attendance Policy and the Department for Education's statutory attendance guidance.

If you are experiencing difficulties that are affecting your child's punctuality, please speak to us as early as possible. We would always prefer to work with families to find a solution.