Click below to download our attendance policy.

It is a statutory duty for parents to ensure that children attend school.  In primary school, some children miss, on average, three weeks of school per year. That is half a year of school by the end of year 6.  Consequently, the government has put strict restrictions on schools with regard to the level of absence tolerated, and all attendance must be regularly monitored and schools must answer for their data to the local authority and Ofsted.

Head Teachers cannot authorise holidays.  Please note that the Department of Education has now authorised the issue of Fixed Penalty Notices for single event absences of at least 5 consecutive school days or more where these absences are unauthorised because they are neither exceptional nor unavoidable. Previously, there had to be evidence of historical absence but this is no longer the case and has been implemented nationally with effect from 19th August 2024.

As a result of such monitoring requirements, we have developed an attendance monitoring system which is explained in the attendance policy.

Attendance at school is important and the system exists to ensure that all children have a fair chance at a decent education. A child who has 95% attendance at the end of the school year has missed 10 days of schooling.

We know that every child’s attendance can dip at certain times in their school career.  It is our job to monitor this, talk to you and offer support or to enforce the statutory duty afforded us by the Government if this is needed.  The letters and meetings are meant as support and assurance for both sides.