Attendance

There are positive benefits gained from regular attendance at nursery, this includes not only coming to every booked session, but also being here on time.  This supports each child to feel safe and secure as their routines are consistent and their learning and development can be well supported through the range of opportunities at the nursery.  Where each child is unique, so is each day.  

Good habits

• It builds in young children the idea that getting up and going to a setting is your daily routine.
• Children develop a feel for the rhythm of the week and gain a sense of security from some regular elements, even when the actual pattern or focus of their learning or activity may vary widely from week to week.

Secure relationships

•  Young children find it easier to build and sustain a range of social relationships when they regularly attend their childcare setting.
• For some families, particularly at times of stress, the child’s regular attendance at a setting allows parents to get other things done and helps them enjoy spending time with the child when he or she is at home.

Self-esteem

• Children who rarely miss sessions at an early years setting and come on time are more likely to feel good about themselves. This is because they know what goes on and what to expect, feel more confident with the adults and the other children and have more opportunities to be valued and praised for their own special contribution.
• Children who regularly miss sessions or are generally late, can frequently experience a sense of having to try a little bit harder just to understand what is going on and what other children are talking about or doing.
• Regular attendance, on time, helps many young children to separate from their parents or carers at the start of the day and settle more readily into daily life in their setting

Learning and Development

• Staff carefully plan every session for each child in their care and want to take every opportunity to help them thrive. Experiences gained in one session are often developed further in the next session.
• Children learn in many different ways through play with others and through being in the company of staff who actively support their learning and development.
• Underachievement is often linked to lower attendance. For some older students this is linked to a steadily deteriorating trend in attendance which is traceable right back to their Early Years setting.

Safeguarding

• Good attendance is important for every child, but especially those for whom specific factors make them more vulnerable to disengagement or underachievement. Most children are well supported by their families and continue to thrive, whatever their background or circumstances. However, there are some factors in children’s lives which make it more likely that they will experience some difficulty. It is particularly important to build relationships so that every family feels well supported.

 Systems

Daily registration will be completed at the start of each session within 10 minutes of the start time.  

Preferably, we ask families to notify the nursery office (telephone/email) on the first day of absence and advise us accordingly to the length of absence.  

Where contact has not been made by a family, we operate a first day response call to the family to check on their well-being.  

Guidance

Schools and nurseries are common sites for transmission of infections. Children are particularly susceptible because: 

• they have immature immune systems
• have close contact with other children
• sometimes have no or incomplete vaccinations
• have a poor understanding of hygiene practices

The Nursey adhere to the guidelines published by Public Health England, namely Health protection in schools and other childcare facilities.

 If a child is unwell or has a temperature staff will contact the parent/carer with a view to asking parents to collect their child or to advise them to make a doctor’s appointment. In order to prevent the spread of a contagious illness, please keep your child at home following the guidance in this poster: 

Winter Health Update January 2023