Why Attendance Matters

We are delighted to share that our school’s current attendance rate is 96.5%, which is above the national target. This is a fantastic achievement, and we want to thank all our families for their continued support in helping children attend school regularly and on time.

Attending school every day has a huge impact on children’s progress, wellbeing, and confidence. Here are some of the positive benefits that regular attendance brings to both children and families:

Why Good Attendance Matters

• Supports Structure and Routine: Children thrive when they follow a consistent daily pattern. Good attendance helps them feel secure and organised.
• Builds a Vital Life Skill: Being present and on time prepares children for secondary school and future employment by developing discipline and responsibility.
• Ensures Safety and Support: School provides a safe environment, daily meals, and wellbeing support—not just for pupils, but for parents and carers too.
• Boosts Confidence: Regular attendance helps children grow socially and academically, making them more confident in the classroom and the playground.
• Strengthens Relationships: Being in school every day allows children to build strong, positive, long-lasting relationships with both staff and their peers.
• Improves Teamwork and Class Progress: When everyone attends regularly, classes can learn, collaborate, and achieve together.
• Eases Pressure on Families: Regular school attendance gives parents and carers valuable time for work, daily tasks, or personal downtime—helping reduce stress.
• Promotes Success: Children who attend school consistently are more likely to achieve their potential and make strong academic progress.
• Creates New Opportunities: School offers fun, challenge, and experiences that children may not find elsewhere—helping them grow in all areas of life.

Thank you once again for your commitment to brilliant attendance. Let’s keep working together to maintain and celebrate this fantastic achievement! 🎉

Attendance Support Team

The members of the Senior Leadership Team responsible for attendance are: Miss Beesley (Head of School) and Mr Steadman (Executive Headteacher)

The Attendance Support Team also comprises of Mrs H VanRooijan and Miss K Saville as reception staff and Miss K Buccieri as our Early Years contact.

What do I do if my child is struggling to attend?

There are various forms of support available to you and your child if they are struggling to attend school. We have a welcome gate in the morning and evening with members of the Senior Leadership Team on the gate.

Mrs Beesley will lead support meetings with you and your child if needed. In addition, we also have other members of staff that offer further support.

A copy of our Attendance policy is available by clicking here.

Welfare checks

Sometimes known as Safe and Well checks, are a supportive way that schools make sure children are safe and well when they are unexpectedly absent and the school has not been able to contact home.

National guidance, including Working Together to Improve School Attendance and Keeping Children Safe in Education, explains that schools have a responsibility to follow up absences quickly because sometimes a child not being in school can be linked to illness, family difficulties, or other worries rather than a simple attendance issue.

A welfare check might be a phone call, a visit to the home, or contact through another professional (social care or police), and its purpose is always to check that your child is safe and to see if the school can offer help or support. These checks are not about blame or punishment; they are about care, safeguarding, and working in partnership with families to make sure children are supported back into school as soon as they

are able.

Keeping Children Safe in Education states that schools have a duty to act early when concerns arise. This may be a phone call on the first two days and a home visit on the third day. Failure to gain a response from the pupil or family would result in the situation being escalated.

Can I take my child on holiday during term time?

In September 2013 the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 came into force. These regulations make it clear that Headteachers should not grant approval for any leave of absence during term-time, including holidays, unless there are exceptional circumstances. These regulations also state that holidays cannot be authorised retrospectively.

Any requests should be on an official school absence request form and handed into the school office for consideration prior to any holiday leave arrangements being made.

You may be issued with a Penalty Notice should leave be taken which is not authorised. If unpaid this could lead to prosecution under section 444(1) of The Education Act 1996.

Arriving at school

As a "Take Care" School there is an expectation that pupils will arrive at school on time. The doors are opened at 8:50am to give pupils plenty of time to be in their classroom for a 9am start. The doors are closed at 9am. Any pupils arriving after this time must do so through the office.

Minutes late per day Equivalent of missing

Please note that the morning nursery session begins at 8:45am. 

Consequences to parents and pupils of being absent and late.

Unauthorised absence or your child being frequently late could result in fine or prosecution.

Every school, by law, has to register pupils twice a day; first thing in the morning at the start of the school day, and again in the afternoon session. If a pupils is fails to attend or arrives late they can be marked as an absence for that session.

If a pupil of compulsory school age is absent, the register must show whether the absence was authorised (acceptable) or unauthorised (where no acceptable reason is given for absence). Only the school can approve the reason for absence.

Authorised absence from school

Where a pupil is absent due to sickness and is genuinely unable to attend school,  then the school, after being informed, may authorise a child’s absence.

It is important to keep the school informed if your child is going to be absent at the start of the day. Please contact the school office.

In law only a headteacher can authorise a pupil’s absence, and may require additional evidence such as a letter from your GP.

Unauthorised absence (truancy)

The law states that parent/carer(s) must ensure that their child regularly attends the school where they are registered. Should your child fail to attend school regularly legal action may be taken against you.

Once a child is registered in school, attendance is compulsory until the last Friday in June of the academic year in which the child turns 16 (Year 11). It is a parent’s legal responsibility to ensure that their child, when of statutory school age, accesses education appropriate to age, needs and ability.

Under the terms of the education related provisions of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act, parent/carer(s) may be issued with a Penalty Notice of £160 if:

• You fail to ensure that your child attends school, or other education provision regularly
• You allow your child to take leave of absence in term time without a school’s authorisation
• Your failure to return your child to school on an agreed date after a leave of absence
• Your child is found out of school, without permission, on two Truancy Sweeps, within the same school year
• Your child persistently arrives late for school after the register is closed

Legal powers

We have legal powers to take action via the courts for persistent non-attenders.

Under Section 444(1) of the Education Act of 1996, parent/carer(s) can be prosecuted for failure to ensure regular school attendance via the Magistrate Court. The penalty for an offence under this act can be a fine up to £1,000.

There is a more serious offence under Section 444(1a) (in circumstances where the parent knows that his/her child is failing to attend school regularly and fails without reasonable justification to cause him/her to do so) for which there is a maximum fine of £2,500, a term of imprisonment of up to 3 months, or both. A warrant could be issued requesting the defendant to attend court for sentencing.

We can also take action via the Family Proceedings Court under Section 36 of the Children Act 1989 and apply for an Education Supervision Order, making the LA (local authority) responsible for the education of the child. This action is taken to support parents.

We can serve School Attendance Orders under sections 437-443 of the Education Act 1996 in respect of pupils who are not registered at any school or registered to be receiving education rather than at school.

Having concerns

If you are concerned about your child’s attendance you should initially speak to a member of staff. 

Lateness

• It is a parent’s responsibility to ensure their children arrive at school on time. Lateness can disrupt the learning of others and can result in a pupil feeling greater stress and achieving poorer outcomes.
• 90 per cent attendance means that your child is absent from lessons for the equivalent of one half day every week.
• Over five years this is the equivalent of about one half of a school year.
• Research shows a close link between attendance at school and a child’s achievement. Being late adds up to a loss of learning.
• All time out of school affects both learning and achievement for pupils. Please make sure your child arrives at school on time.

If a pupil arrives after registration has closed the absence will be recorded as unauthorised for that session. If this persists legal action, in the form of a Penalty Notice or Prosecution under Section 444(1) of the Education Act 1996 may follow.

Family holidays and extended leave during term time

Amendments to the registration regulations remove references to family holidays and extended leave as well as the threshold of ten school days. The amendments make it clear that headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances, which came into force on 1^st September 2013.

Penalty fine

Should a school not agree to grant leave and parents take their child on holiday regardless, then this will be counted as unauthorised absence (truancy). The school and our Attendance and Engagement Officer may consider issuing a Penalty Fine of £60 for this period of unauthorised absence.

Absence Due to Sickness

Contacting school

Inform the school before 8.45 am on every day your child is absent from school due to illness.

Occasionally pupils are too unwell to attend school. The School will monitor and engage with parents as soon as a pattern of absence becomes apparent.

When deciding whether or not your child is too ill to attend school. Ask yourself:

• Is your child well enough to carry out the activities of the school day? If not, keep your child at home and consult your GP as appropriate.
• Does your child have a condition that could be passed on to other children or school staff? If so, keep your child at home.
• Would you take a day off work if you had this condition? If so, keep your child at home.

Common conditions

Most illnesses can be classified as one of a few minor health conditions. Whether or not you send your child to school will depend on how severe you judge the illness to be. This guidance can help you to make that judgement. If you’re concerned about your child’s health, consult a health professional.

Please note the guidance at this time should follow the Governments latest Covid-19 adivce

Cough and cold

A child with a minor cough or cold may attend school. If the cold is accompanied by raised temperature, shivers or drowsiness, the child should stay off school, visit the GP and return to school 24 hours after they’re feeling better. If your child has a more severe and long-lasting cough, consult your GP, who can provide guidance on whether the child should stay off school.

Raised temperature

If your child has a raised temperature, they shouldn’t attend school. They can return 24 hours after they’re feeling better.

Rash

Rashes can be the first sign of many infectious illnesses such as chickenpox and measles. Children with these conditions shouldn’t attend school. If your child has a rash, check with your GP or practice nurse before sending them to school.

Headache

A child with a minor headache doesn’t usually need to be kept off school. If the headache is more severe or is accompanied by other symptoms such as raised temperature or drowsiness, then keep the child off school and consult your GP.

Vomiting and diarrhoea

Children with these conditions should be kept off school. They can return 48 hours after their symptoms disappear. Most cases of vomiting or diarrhoea get better without treatment, but if symptoms persist, consult your GP.

Sore throat

A sore throat alone doesn’t have to keep a child from school. If it’s accompanied by a raised temperature, the child should stay at home.

Informing the school

By law, only the headteacher can authorise your child’s absence. It is important to keep the school informed if your child is going to be absent as soon as possible at the start of the day. Telephone the school to tell them that your child will be staying at home. The school will ask about the nature of the illness and the expected duration of absence from school.

If your child is frequently absent due to illness the school may request permission to contact your GP for confirmation that they are too ill to attend school.

If it becomes clear that your child will be away from school for longer than expected, phone the school to explain this as soon as possible.