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Attendance Letter September 2025
Mon 08 Sep 2025SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Dear Parents,
We believe passionately that every school day matters in a child’s education. This is
backed up by plenty of research to show how crucial regular attendance is in ensuring children reach their full potential in our education system and develop into confident, wellrounded adults who are equipped for life.
What is good attendance?
There are 190 school days each year. To ensure a child fully achieves their potential, they should be in school for at least 95% of this time (180 days). If a child is taken out of school for a 2-week holiday in termtime then any further absences e.g. through illness will immediately put that child below the 95% threshold. We encourage our pupils to be a HERO – “Here, Every day, Ready, On time”.
Can I take my child out of school for a holiday in term time?
Headteachers have the discretion to approve up to 10 school days over an academic year for family holidays. This is done on a case-by-case basis and the decision to approve will be based on a number of factors, including the child’s attendance over the last year. All requests for term-time absence must be submitted in writing to the Headteacher prior to going away.
What do I do if my child is absent from school?
Parents have a responsibility to inform the school if their child is absent and provide a valid reason for the absence. We ask that parents ring the school on 01554 759178 or contact us by email (admin@stmarysllanelli.ysgolccc.cymru) as early as possible ON THE FIRST DAY OF ABSENCE. In line with many other schools, we also send text messages to remind parents to contact us if their child is absent.
What about lateness?
The law states that parents are legally required to ensure their children attend school
regularly and on time. Persistent lateness is dealt with in much the same way as irregular attendance. Persistent lateness can be every bit as harmful to a child’s education as missing school. We encourage all children to be in school by 9:10am. Children who arrive in school after the close of register will be marked as an unauthorised absence.
How do we deal with persistent absence?
We like to keep parents informed about their child’s attendance, so we will be providing termly reports for every child. We also make contact with parents of children whose attendance is a cause for concern. The purpose of these meetings is to identify the reasons for persistent absence and to identify any support the school or outside agencies can give to ensure the child’s attendance improves. There are occasions where there are significant and ongoing concerns about a child’s attendance which necessitate the school referring the matter to the School Safeguarding and Attendance Team.
What can I do as a parent?
As parents, we all want the very best for our children and key to this is a good education.
We are proud of what we do for our pupils here at St Mary’s School. We endeavour to provide educational experiences tailored to a child’s developmental needs and which feed their interests, enthusiasm and specific abilities and talents. For this to work, they need to be with us for as much of the journey as possible, so we urge that, as parents you:
- ensure that your child arrives at school on time each day
- ensure that your child only misses school for reasons which are unavoidable or justified, such as illness or days of religious observance
- always notify the school as soon as possible - preferably on the first morning of any absence
- try to avoid booking family holidays during term-time and
- talk to the school if you are concerned that your child may be reluctant to go to school.
I hope you will support us in our attempts to ensure that your child has the very best start on their lifelong learning journey
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Welcome Back September 2025
Mon 08 Sep 20258th September 2025
Dear Parents
A warm welcome back to our pupils, parents, and staff. I hope you all enjoyed your summer holidays. As we begin the new school year, you will find attached the Consent and Medical questionnaires as well as a Data Capture Sheet. Please complete both forms and return to school signed and dated (please do this at the bottom of the data sheet) by WEDNESDAY September 10th 2025. These forms are personal to your child and need to be completed to update all our records. If your child is new to the school, you will already have received this pack and if you haven’t done so already, please return it by Monday. A Home-School Agreement will follow for you to sign.
It is extremely important that you keep us up to date of any changes in circumstances throughout the year e.g., change of home address, new telephone numbers or any medical conditions. Our data privacy notice is available upon request and on our school website. Thank you in advance for your cooperation on this matter.
Some general information:
Access to school car park – thank you for your support and cooperation on safe use of the carpark.
School start: Your child needs to be in school before 9:10am as this is when children are in class ready for registration. Arrival after this time is marked as late which is monitored by the school and local authority attendance officers. If you arrive late, please escort your child into the main reception area so that you can sign them in to the Late Register on the iPad. We do understand that there may be one off occasions where lateness happens however, we need to record reasons for all late arrivals. Persistent late arrivals will be monitored, and the school will need to follow the appropriate procedures. Late arrivals not only impact your child’s learning but also the others in class who’s learning is disrupted.
The school attendance target for the year is 95% which is attending for 180 days out of a possible 190 days. We encourage all our pupils to become a “HERO - Here, Every day, Ready, On time”. Please read the information on the school attendance letter attached for our school procedures in relation to absence and attendance.
Uniform: As you already know, the school uniform consists of a white polo t-shirt, dark bottoms and a royal blue jumper or cardigan with the school logo and black school shoes. PE Kit consists of a blue crew neck t-shirt and dark bottoms with trainers. We kindly ask that children adhere to the school uniform policy. PE forms part of the curriculum and pupils are to wear a school PE t-shirt with dark shorts/bottoms.
There are several items of free pre-loved uniform available throughout the year at school if you require any. New uniform can be bought at Picton Sports, Heol Aur, Dafen Industrial Estate. Book bags can be purchased from the school or from Picton.
In the interests of health and safety children are discouraged from wearing jewellery at school. If jewellery is worn, it must be removed during PE sessions. The school will accept no responsibility for the loss or damage of items of jewellery.
Please write your child’s name on ALL uniform (and reapply after washes) to help reduce the amount of lost and found and to make it easier to return to the correct owner if lost.
Water bottles: Pupils are to bring their own water bottles to school daily which can be filled up at our cold-water dispensers to stay hydrated. Please write your child’s name on their bottle.
Snacks: We are a NUT FREE school due to a few children suffering with serious nut allergies. We ask for everyone’s cooperation on this matter. We encourage children to bring in healthy snacks such as fruit and water, instead of fizzy drinks, sweets, crisps. Energy drinks are not permitted. This will help with your child’s health and their development and goes hand in hand with the Healthy Schools Award Scheme.
A reminder for Years 3-6 as per end of term letter, all pupils in Key Stage 2 (Years 3-6) need to bring their own pencil case to school daily. A pencil case will need pens (black ink), pencils, rubber, sharpener and a ruler. Thank you in advance for helping us with this request.
School Meals: Meals can be pre booked and paid for on the school meal website www.parentpay.com
Parent Pay is also used for school trips. If you have not received your log in, please let us know. Any pupils new to the school will have their log ins soon as possible - it takes a few days for the system to set up. Universal Free School Meals are currently available for all full-time pupils in Nursery, Reception, Years 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Some pupils may be eligible for Free School Meals which also allows access to other grants and provides additional funding to the school. If you think you qualify, please visit https://www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/home/council-services/education-schools/school-meals/free-school-meals/
The After-school club letter will be issued next week with clubs starting the following week commencing Monday September 15th 2025. Please return the club booking letter asap. Spaces are allocated on a first come first serve basis. If you are successful in being allocated a place in your chosen club, your child will be added to the club list on Parent pay which will be open for you to complete the consent and payment information to secure your space prior to its start. Refunds will only be issued if the club is cancelled by the school.
Our school Website https://www.stmarysllanelli.org/ has a range of information on it. Class information is in the process of being updated so please check it throughout the term. Our website also has the option to be translated into multiple languages (click on the British flag at the top right of the screen for different language).
Own clothes days will continue to be held on the last Friday of the month. We kindly ask for a donation of £1 per child on these days. The option to pay in full for the year is available on Parent Pay.
The school calendar on the website will be updated over the next week. See overleaf for a snapshot of dates.
National Roald Dahl Day is on Friday 12th September. During the first two weeks of term, all pupils are taking part in different classroom activities based on Roald Dahl’s vast collection of books and stories.
TOMORROW Tuesday 9th September 2025: We have arranged for Shine Drama to attend to lead pupils from Year 1 to 6 in a performing arts day and kindly ask for a small contribution of £2 each towards the cost of this day via parent pay. All pupils are invited to dress up in their favourite costume on Friday 12th September.
Thank you for taking the time to read this detailed letter. Please remember to return your completed data forms by Wednesday so that we can update your child’s records.
Wishing you all a warm welcome at the beginning of a new school year.
Yours Sincerely
Mrs Howells,
Headteacher
School Calendar (more dates will be added – please check the website throughout the year)
01/09/25
Designated Inset Day – school closed to pupils
All
02/09/25
All pupils to attend school – start of Autumn Term
All
04/09/25
Y4 attend launch of Treasure School – Film Skills Project
Y4
08/09/25
Start of term Mass
All
09/09/25
Roald Dahl Drama Workshops – Shine Drama
Y1-6
12/09/25
Roald Dahl Day
All
WC 15/09/25
After School Clubs start this week
Y1-6
17/09/25
School Council Presentations in classes
Y2-6
24/09/25
Head Boy/Girl Presentations delivered to whole school
Y6
26/09/25
Macmillan Coffee Morning * more details to follow – date to be confirmed
All
26/09/25
Y3 Y4 trip to Dylan Thomas Museum
Y3/4
26/09/25
Own Clothes Day £1
All
30/09/25
Y4 First Holy Communion Parent Meeting
Y4 FHC
10/10/25
Inset Day – school closed to all pupils
All
13-15/10/25
Y6 Manor Residential trip
Y6
16/10/25
PTA Autumn Disco To Be Confirmed
All
17/10/25
Show Racism the Red Card Day
All
19/10/25
FHC Inscription Mass
FHC Y4
24/10/25
Own Clothes Day £1
All
WC 27/10/25
Half Term – school closed
All
03/11/25
Parents Evening
All
04/11/25
Parents Evening
All
13/11/25
Y3 Y4 Stick 2 Music session
Y3/4
14/11/25
Y6 Class Assembly
Y6
14/11/25
Children in Need Day
All
16/11/25
FHC Group Mass
FHC
28/11/25
Own Clothes Day £1
All
30/11/25
Advent Mass OLQP
All
04/12/25
Advent Reconciliation Mass at school
All
09/12/25
Christmas Concert TBC
All
10/12/25
Christmas Concert TBC
All
11/12/25
Christmas Jumper Day
All
15/12/25
Christmas Party Day
All
16/12/25
Christmas singing in the community
Choir
17/12/25
Christmas Dinner Day
All
18/12/25
End of term Mass
All
19/12/25
Last day of term – Own Clothes Day £1
All
WC 22/12/25
Christmas holidays – school closed
All
WC 29/12/25
Christmas holidays – school closed
All
05/01/26
Inset Day – school closed
All
06/01/26
All pupils back to school
All