Attendance

Our approach to maintaining good attendance

We are committed to meeting our obligation with regards to school attendance through our whole-school culture and ethos that values good attendance, including:

• Promoting and celebrating good attendance.
• Reducing absence, including persistent and severe absence.
• Ensuring every pupil has access to the full-time education to which they are entitled.
• Acting early to address patterns of absence.
• Building strong relationships with families to ensure pupils have the support in place to attend school.

Regular attendance at school is one of the keys to any child achieving their full potential and we try to encourage this at all times at Scarcroft Primary School.

Our official school day starts at 08:50am.
Children arriving late, but within 30 minutes of this time will receive a late mark (L).
Children arriving 30 or minutes after this time will receive a U code*.

Our official afternoon session starts at:

• Reception: 12:45
• Year 1 & 2: 13:00
• Year 3 & 4: 13:15
• Year 5 & 6: 13:30

Children coming to school in the afternoon, but within 30 minutes of this time will receive a late mark (L) for the afternoon session. Children arriving 30 or minutes after this time will receive a U code*.

Children arriving late to school at any time due to a medical or dental appointment receive an M code if it is 30 or more minutes after the official session times. Other attendance codes where children arrive after morning or afternoon registration can apply, such as I for illness.

*Please note the U code is an unauthorised absence for the session, as per DfE legal requirements.

You can view our Attendance Policy on Our Policies page.

Senior Attendance Champion: Mrs H. Clegg – Contact details: admin@scarcroft.elt.org.uk

Support with attendance

We work closely with City of York to support students and families, working together to ensure excellent school attendance.

Please do read the City of York Attendance Matters Poster – September 2026 ‘Together for better attendance’ leaflet produced by their attendance team that outlines support for families, some useful guidance and advice, and information about the legal framework around school attendance.