It is important to be on time at the start of the morning and afternoon sessions and also to lessons. The start of school is used to give out instructions or organise work. If your child is late, they can miss time with their class teacher getting vital information, cause disruption to the lesson for others, and it can be embarrassing leading to possible further absence.

• All lateness is recorded daily. This information will be required by the courts, should a prosecution for non-attendance or lateness be necessary.
• Arrival after the close of registration will be marked as unauthorised absence and coded U in line with the Department of Education guidance. This mark shows them to be on site, but is legally recorded as an unauthorised absence.
• If a pupil is late due to a medical appointment, they will receive an authorised absence, coded M. Please be advised that, where possible, doctor and dentist appointments are to be made outside of school hours or during school holidays.
• Punctuality at school is vital and registers should not be kept open for an extended period of time.

Pupils who are consistently late are disrupting not only their own education but also that of the other pupils. Ongoing and repeated absent lates (U code) are unauthorised absences and maybe be subject to legal action (see Section 6 for further detail). Parents, guardians or carers of pupils who have patterns of lateness will be contacted to discuss the importance of good time keeping and how this might be achieved. If lateness persists parents, guardians or carers will be invited to attend the school and discuss the problem and support offered. If support is not appropriate or is declined, the school will refer the matter to the Attendance Improvement Office at Hertfordshire County Council.