Attendance
At St Mary's we firmly believe that regular school attendance is essential for the educational progress and overall wellbeing of our pupils. For children to progress it is vital that they attend school on time, every day. Children who frequently miss school often fall behind and there is a strong connection between attendance and achievement at school. Absence is proven to have a significantly negative impact upon a child's educational attainment and future opportunities in life. Parents have a legal responsibility to make sure that children are in school, on time every day.
Why regular attendance matters
Consistent school attendance allows your child to:
Fully engage in learning and make academic progress
Develop critical social skills by interacting with their friends and teachers
Grow in confidence in a supportive and nurturing school environment
Build a sense of routine and responsibility, essential for future success
ATTENDANCE MATTERS - Key facts and figures
One day off every 2 weeks will result in 90% attendance
90% attendance over a child's school career will add up to more than 1 Year of missed education
Year 6 pupils with 95-100% attendance are 30% more likely to achieve the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths compared to those with attendance of 90-95%.
Attendance support
We understand that some pupils may face challenges that impact their attendance. We are here to provide support and guidance to pupils and families in such situations. If you encounter any difficulties related to attendance, please don't hesitate to contact school for support.
Acceptable reasons for absence
We recognise that there are circumstances where a pupil's absence can't be avoided. Acceptable reasons for being absent from school include:
Illness: when your child is unwell, either physically or mentally, and unable to attend school
Medical appointments: if your child has a medical appointment that cannot be scheduled outside school hours, please notify us in advance and provide relevant documentation (e.g. an appointment letter/message)
Religious observance: we respect the diverse cultural and religious backgrounds of our society. If your child needs to be absent for religious observance, please submit a request and the headteacher will review and approve the absence.
Exceptional circumstances: in exceptional situations, such as family emergencies or unforeseen events, please contact the school immediately to discuss the absence.
If your child is ill and you are unsure if they can attend school please see the government website or the summary here
How to report unplanned absences
In the event of an unplanned absence:
Contact the school: on the day of the absence, please call the school office on 01928 565995 by 8.30am to inform us of your child's absence.
Alternatively you can report the absence on the Compass App
Provide a reason for absence: please provide a brief explanation for the absence. For illness please be specific where possible e.g. vomiting, headache etc
Punctuality
Being at school on time is equally important as attending each day. When children arrive late, they miss valuable learning time, including morning routines, instructions, and key activities that set the tone for the day.
School doors open at 8.45am.
If your child arrives after 9am they will need to enter the school via the office and you will be required to sign them in with a reason for lateness.
The registers close at 9.15am and if your child arrives after this time it will be classed as an unauthorised absence.
Term-time holidays and leave
On 19th August 2024 the DfE updated the "Working Together to Improve School Attendance" legislation (full document can be found here). This means that the fining system and criteria have been changed.
Due to these changes and to ensure a consistent and fair approach, term-time holidays can no longer be authorised. Absences due to term-time holidays have a huge impact on learning and can drastically reduce a child's attendance percentage.
We recognise that there may be exceptional circumstances that require a term-time absence. In this instance please complete the St Mary's Absence request form (here) and return it to the school office.
Rewards for good attendance
We value and recognise good attendance at St Mary's. At the end of each half term any class with over 94% is rewarded with a special treat.
Every child's attendance matters.
Our Attendance Policies and Procedures
Our current attendance policy can be found HERE
If your child's attendance for the term drops below 90% you will receive a letter to inform you of this
If your child is late 5 or more times in a term, you will receive a letter informing you of this
What YOU can do
You can check your child's current attendance on the Compass app
Try to telephone the school before 8.30am each day of your child’s absence.
Tell school in advance, of any medical appointments and provide evidence of the appointment.
f you are not sure whether your child is well enough to attend school, send them in anyway as they often perk up on arrival. We will always call if we feel your child is struggling in school.
Have a backup plan for if you are unable to bring your child to school, call on a family member, neighbour or friend.
If you and your child are experiencing difficulties with school attendance, then talk to us as a first step so we can help! Please speak with Mrs Bain our Family Support Worker or Mrs Tainsh.
What WE will do
Promote good attendance and punctuality
Check and record your child’s attendance every day.
Contact parents/carers if your child is absent without reason
Alert Family Support Worker/Safeguarding leads if there are concerns about the absence
If we cannot establish a reason for absence, then we may make a welfare home visit.
If we have persistent attendance concerns we will phone home to discuss your child’s attendance with you and offer support.
Invite you into school for attendance meetings.
Refer the matter to our Education Welfare Officer