Attendance

At Brightside Nursery Infant School, we believe that good attendance and punctuality are essential for every child's success and wellbeing. Establishing positive habits from an early age helps children settle into routines, build strong relationships, and get the most from their learning experiences.

Why Attendance Matters

Regular attendance at school:

• Builds confidence and a sense of belonging
• Supports emotional and social development
• Encourages a love of learning and curiosity
• Helps children make good progress across all areas of the curriculum

We understand that young children may occasionally need time off due to illness, and we ask that parents and carers keep us informed if their child is unwell or unable to attend.

Reporting Absences/lateness

If your child is going to be absent or late, please contact the school office as soon as possible or before 9:30am on the first day of absence. You can do this by:

• Calling: 0114 2441826
• Emailing: enquiries@brightside.sheffield.sch.uk

Please let us know your child’s name, class, and the reason for the absence. Medical evidence is required for any medical appointments. We encourage these to be made outside of school hours where possible so that learning is not impacted

Punctuality

Arriving on time helps children feel calm and ready for the day ahead. Our school doors open at 8:40am and registration begins at 8:55am. Our nursery opens the doors at 8:30am for 8:40am registration, children attending nursery in the afternoon need to arrive at 12:15pm. We encourage all families to arrive promptly to help ensure a smooth and settled start.

Frequent lateness can:

• Disrupt your child’s learning and confidence
• Cause distress at separation time
• Affect the flow of the classroom and other children’s learning
• Impact on teaching and learning

If you are having difficulty with morning routines, please do speak to us—we are here to support you.

Holidays During Term Time

We kindly ask families to avoid taking holidays during term time. Time away from school can significantly impact children’s educational development and disrupt their learning progress. Leave of absence during term time can only be authorised in very exceptional circumstances.

Please speak to the Headteacher if you have any questions about this. More information on Penalty Notice Fines is provided in our attendance policy and on this page.

If you need any support please come and speak to us in school, we are here to help and want to work with families.