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Attendance
Attendance Matters
Regular school attendance is essential for children to grow in social and academic confidence. We believe that regular school attendance is the key to enabling children to maximise the educational opportunities available to them and become emotionally resilient, confident and competent adults who are able to make a positive contribution to their community. Based upon its Christian foundation, St Paul’s values all pupils. We work with families to identify the barriers to attendance and try to resolve any difficulties by building strong and trusting relationships, working together to put the right support in place.
St Paul’s recognises that attendance is a matter for the whole school community. Securing good attendance cannot be seen in isolation, and effective practices for improvement will involve close interaction with schools’ efforts on curriculum, behaviour, bullying, special educational needs support, pastoral and mental health and wellbeing, and effective use of resources. This policy also takes into account the Human Rights Act 1998, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the Race Relations Act 2000.
“7. Improving attendance is everyone’s business. The barriers to accessing education are wide and complex, both within and beyond the school gates, and are often specific to individual pupils and families. The foundation of securing good attendance is that school is a calm, orderly, safe, and supportive environment where all pupils want to be and are keen and ready to learn.”1
1 Working Together to Improve School Attendance - DfE May 2022
Attendance Information Leaflet for Parents and Carers
Why is regular attendance important?
Because every child has the right to be educated.
Attending school regularly means that:
- Students can benefit from the opportunities provided for them in school
- Student’s learning is uninterrupted
- Students can achieve the best results in a broad range of activities
- Relationships with friends and teachers are maintained and can grow.
- Students are in a safe environment
Recent research suggests that children who are missing up to 6 weeks schooling during the year actually fall 2 terms behind their peers.
How can parents help?
- Support your child’s learning at home
- Make sure your child arrives at school on time every day, with all their equipment and ready to learn
- Tell your child that they are expected to follow the school rules and Behaviour Policy
- Contact your child’s form teacher if he/she has any problems at school
- Keep the school informed of any issues at home which may affect your child’s attendance/performance at school
- Make routine medical appointments out of school hours
- If appointments must be made during school time, make sure your child misses as little of the day as possible
Authorised and Unauthorised Absences
The school is allowed to authorise some absences:
- If a child is genuinely ill – you may be asked to produce a doctor’s certificate
- If the child is visiting a prospective school
- If a child is observing a religious festival
Applications should be made to the Headteacher in writing in advance
What is unauthorised absence?
During school time pupils should not be absent due to:
- Taking a holiday
- Going shopping or getting their hair cut
- Looking after younger children or other family members
- Sleeping in
- Taking a day off for their birthday
Routine medical appointments should not be made during the school day if at all possible.
Why school wants you to keep in touch…
We want you to help us to help you…..and together we will know your child is safe.
If we don’t hear from you then you will hear from us.
When your child is away from school, please….
- Contact the school as soon as possible if your child has to be absent from school for any reason
- Tell the school what the illness is when your child is ill
- Tell the school the reason for the absence if not due to illness
If the school does not hear from you and your child is not in school, you will receive a telephone call.
Persistent absences or lateness causing concern will be dealt with according to the school's Attendance Policy
Please help us to give your child the education they deserve!