Attendance Register Opening and Late-Arrival Policy

Scope

This policy applies to maintained and academy primary and secondary schools in England. It covers the period during which each attendance register remains open and the arrangements for pupils who arrive late.

Register-opening period

The attendance register will remain open for [register open period] at every session. The same period must be applied consistently to every session and must not be longer than 30 minutes.

Late arrival

The school will actively discourage late arrival and remain alert to patterns of late arrival.

Where a pupil arrives after the register has closed but before the end of the session, the school will seek an explanation from the parent. Where no reason for the lateness is established, or the school is not satisfied that the reason should be recorded as authorised, the pupil will be recorded as absent.