Why is good attendance at school important?

Every lesson, every day, brings new learning with opportunities for all children to develop and grow – socially, emotionally and academically.

When a child is absent regularly, they miss key building blocks in the foundations of their learning which makes it much harder to learn and make connections with new learning.

Attending everyday helps children to live our school values as part of our school community through;

 Love Together, Inspire Together, Grow Together, Happy Together, Trinity Together.

Through regular attendance, children are able to develop their social skills and friendships as well as learn and develop their self-esteem, confidence, resilience and perseverance.

Good punctuality and attendance are skills for life both through their lives in school and beyond into adult life.

Attendance

What is our school attendance target for 2025/26 set by The Department for Education?

95%

What should I do if my child is too ill to attend?

• Call school and speak to the office or leave an answerphone message.
• Send an email.
• Send a text message.

This must be done on every day of your child’s absence and please leave some information about their reasons for absence.  You may receive a call-back to see how your child is (especially if they have been absent for a number of days) or to ask for further information around their absence. If you are unsure whether your child is well enough to attend, speak to school who may be able to advise.

Leave (holidays or extended trips in the UK or abroad) in term-time

In line with DfE guidance and our Attendance Policy, we are unable to authorise leave in term-time.  Where a child is going to be absent for a period of time (not due to illness), parents/carers must contact school to inform and discuss the absence.

For children of statutory school-age, 5 days of leave will incur a Penalty Notice payable to Calderdale. Where leave extends 14 days, statutory action will be in the form of prosecution. Leave is monitored on a three-year rolling programme and the level of statutory action increases.

New National Penalty Notice Framework - from Calderdale Council

Attendance and Punctuality Monitoring

Attendance and punctuality is monitored for all children.  Where a child has irregular patterns of attendance or has had a number of days of illness, in the first instance we may have an informal conversation or request a meeting to discuss reasons for your child’s absence and whether there is any support that we can put in place either in school or at home.  When there are concerns developing around a child’s attendance, further meetings will be instigated where we may initiate an Attendance Contract or Statutory Action if informal support is not helping.

 Leaders meet regularly with Calderdale Education Welfare Service where the attendance of all children with absence at a level which is a cause for concern (90-93%), the attendance of children classed by the DfE as having Persistent Absence (below 90%) or Severe Absence (below 50%) is discussed and actions put in place.

Attendance Policy 

Children’s Attendance Policy

When is my child too ill to attend?

If your child has a mild, manageable illness such as a cold, headache or tummy ache then they are usually well enough to attend.  Where necessary, anti-biotics and other medication may be administered in school where parents have completed a form to give permission.

Click here to view official NHS guidance.

Attendance in Early Years

All children in our school are expected to attend every day that they are well including Nursery and Reception.  The same guidelines, expectations and procedures for absence apply.

Please get in touch

If you wish to discuss your child’s attendance, leave that you wish to take or any further support relating to your child being in-school, on-time, every day, please make an appointment to speak to your child’s class teacher, our Nurture and Safeguarding Officer or Attendance Lead.