Parents are expected to: | Schools are expected to: |
Ensure their child attends every day the school is open except when a statutory reason applies.
Notify the school as soon as possible when their child has to be unexpectedly absent (e.g. sickness).
Only request leave of absence in exceptional circumstances and do so in advance.
Book any medical appointments around the school day where possible. | Have a clear school attendance policy on the school website which all staff, pupils and parents understand.
Develop and maintain a whole school culture that promotes the benefits of good attendance.
Accurately complete admission and attendance registers.
Have robust daily processes to follow up absence.
Regularly monitor data to identify patterns and trends and understand which pupils and pupil cohorts to focus on.
Have a dedicated senior leader with overall responsibility for championing and improving attendance. |
Attendance Matters
Regular school attendance is essential to give your child the best opportunities in life.
Good attendance means a child is less likely to fall behind with their work and more likely to do well in exams.
Research suggests that students who attend school regularly could be less likely to be involved in antisocial behaviour or crime.
Attendance percentage equates to the amount of school time missed
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Every Minute Matters
If you child arrives late to school everyday, their learning begins to suffer.
5 minutes late every day adds up to missing 3 school days
10 mins late every day adds up to missing 6.5 days of school a year.
15 ins late a day means your child is missing 10 days of school a year.
being late by 20 mins each day means your child misses 13 days of school a year.
missing 30 mons of school every day means your child misses 19 school days a year.
How can Parents and Carers help to ensure good attendance at school: -
Absences can hide problems that we could be sorting out together.
If your child is not wanting to attend school for any reason (feeling unwell etc) often is a sign that there is something worrying your child.
Even small issues can be massive worries or concerns to a child. If your child behaviour changes or they are pretending to be sick or just wanting to make excuses to stay at home please consider if there is something worrying your child and speak to the school.
What should you do if your child refuses to attend school?
It is the parent’s and Carers responsibility to let the school know the reason for their child’s absence as soon as possible, on the first and every day of the absence.
Parents and Carers can only explain absences; they cannot authorise them.