Shoreham Preschool LTD

1.9 Absence and Attendance Policy

 Policy Statement

At Shoreham Preschool we recognise the importance of regular attendance for children’s development, safety, and emotional well-being. This Absence and Attendance Policy outlines our procedures for recording attendance and following up on any unexplained or prolonged absences, ensuring that children are safeguarded and fully supported while in our care.

Recording Attendance

  • Accurate daily attendance records are maintained for all children.
  • Registers are completed upon a child’s arrival and departure to ensure real-time safeguarding.
  • Records are stored securely and are available for inspection by Ofsted or the local authority.

Parent and Guardian Responsibilities

  • Parents or legal guardians must inform us as soon as possible if their child is going to be absent from the setting for any reason (e.g. illness, holiday, family emergency).
  • We request that parents notify us before the expected session begins on the day of absence.

Monitoring and Following Up on Absences

  • In line with EYFS 2025, we have established a clear procedure for identifying and following up on prolonged or unexplained absences.
  • If a child is absent without notification, we will take the following steps:
    1. Attempt to contact the parent or guardian using the primary contact number.
    2. If no response is received, we will try the second (or additional) emergency contact.
    3. If the absence continues unexplained and no contact is made, we may escalate the concern to local safeguarding authorities following our safeguarding procedures.
  • These steps are taken to ensure the child’s safety and welfare.

Emergency Contact Details

We maintain a minimum of two up-to-date emergency contacts per child to ensure effective communication in cases of unexplained absence or emergency.

  • Parents are asked to review and update their emergency contact details at least termly, or immediately if changes occur.

Prolonged or Repeated Absences

  • In cases of regular non-attendance or repeated absences, we will:
    • Discuss concerns with parents to understand any underlying reasons
    • Offer support or signpost to services if there are barriers to regular attendance
    • Monitor patterns that may raise safeguarding concerns and report accordingly
  • For children accessing government-funded hours, we are required to monitor attendance to ensure funding is used appropriately.
  • Frequent or extended absences without valid reason may be reported to West Sussex County Council and could impact ongoing eligibility for funding.

Holidays and Planned Absences

  • Parents are required to inform us in writing of any planned absences (e.g. holidays, appointments) in advance.

These will be recorded separately from unnotified absences.