Attendance

Why is good attendance is so important?

Good attendance at primary school is crucial for several reasons.

1. Academic Achievement: Research shows a clear link between attendance and academic achievement. Children who attend school regularly are more likely to achieve better grades and academic outcomes.
2. Social and Emotional Development: Regular school attendance provides children with opportunities for social interaction, peer relationships, and emotional development. Consistent attendance helps children build friendships, develop social skills, and establish a sense of belonging within the school community.
3. Preparation for Future Success: Good attendance habits established during primary school lay the foundation for future success in education and beyond. Consistent attendance fosters habits of responsibility, punctuality, and commitment, which are essential for success in later stages of education and in the workforce.
4. Reduction of Achievement Gaps: Regular attendance is particularly important for reducing achievement gaps among students from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Studies have found that attendance interventions aimed at improving attendance rates among disadvantaged students can contribute to narrowing the achievement gap between low-income students and their more affluent peers.

Overall, the evidence underscores the critical role of good attendance in primary school for academic success, social-emotional development, and long-term educational outcomes. By prioritizing regular attendance, schools and families can support children in reaching their full potential and laying a strong foundation for future success.

How does Amington Heath support children and parents in promoting good attendance?

Amington Heath Primary School provides comprehensive support to parents and children to ensure good attendance through various strategies.

1. Clear Expectations: The school communicates clear expectations regarding attendance to parents and children. It emphasizes the importance of regular attendance and punctuality through its policies and ethos.
2. Early Intervention: The school emphasizes the importance of addressing attendance issues early. It encourages parents to communicate any concerns about attendance promptly so that support can be provided.
3. Parental Engagement: The school fosters strong relationships with parents to ensure they understand their role in promoting good attendance. Parents are expected to ensure their child attends every day and on time, report absences promptly, and request leave of absence only in exceptional circumstances.
4. Communication Channels: The school maintains open communication channels with parents regarding attendance. It expects parents to notify the school of their child’s absence before 9:30 am on the day of absence and provides a designated contact person for absence reporting.
5. Monitoring and Follow-Up: The school closely monitors attendance data and follows up on absences promptly. It contacts parents on the first day of unexplained absence to ascertain the reason and continues to communicate with parents until the absence is resolved.
6. Home Visits and Support: The school conducts home visits for absent pupils when parents cannot be contacted. It also provides support to parents of persistently absent children to improve attendance, including holding parent workshops and offering direct support.
7. Individualized Support: The school recognizes that each child and family may have unique circumstances affecting attendance. It offers individualized support to address specific barriers to attendance, such as working with children who are school refusers or families facing difficulties in getting their children to school.
8. Collaboration with External Agencies: The school collaborates with external agencies, such as education welfare officers and social services, to address persistent attendance issues effectively. It refers cases to external agencies when necessary and works in partnership to support families.

By implementing these strategies, Amington Heath Primary School demonstrates its commitment to promoting good attendance and supporting parents and children in achieving regular attendance habits.

What do we ask parents to do?

Parents can support the school in promoting good attendance by taking the following actions.

1. Ensure Regular Attendance: Parents/carers are expected to ensure that their child attends school every day and arrives on time.
2. Report Absences: If a child is unable to attend school due to illness or other reasons, parents must report the absence to the school before 9:30 am on the first day of absence and subsequently each day of absence.
3. Request Leave of Absence: Any request for leave of absence during term time must be made in advance, providing evidence of exceptional circumstances, and should be submitted at least two weeks before the absence.
4. Avoid Term-Time Holidays: Term-time holidays are not authorized. Parents should not take their child on holiday during term time, as it will be considered unauthorised absence from day one.
5. Provide Medical Evidence if Necessary: If the authenticity of illness is in doubt, parents may be asked to provide medical evidence, such as a doctor’s note, prescription, or appointment card.
6. Ensure Punctuality: Parents should ensure that their child arrives at school on time. Persistent lateness may result in discussions with school staff to address any issues affecting punctuality.
7. Participate in Meetings if Necessary: If there are concerns about a child’s attendance, parents may be contacted by school staff to attend meetings to discuss the matter and collaborate on finding solutions.
8. Clarify Absences if Required: If the school contacts parents to clarify reasons for absences and requests information, parents should respond promptly to ensure that absences are correctly recorded.

By following these actions, parents can support their child’s education and help ensure their regular attendance at school, which is vital for their academic progress and overall well-being.

What happens when attendance becomes a concerns?

If children’s attendance is poor, the school may take several actions to address the issue:

1. Communication with Parents: The school will likely communicate with parents to discuss the reasons for the poor attendance and to emphasize the importance of regular school attendance.
2. Monitoring and Analysis: The school will monitor and analyse attendance data to identify patterns of poor attendance and understand the underlying causes.
3. Intervention Strategies: Based on the analysis, the school may implement intervention strategies to improve attendance. These strategies could include:
   • Providing support and guidance to parents on how to improve their child’s attendance.
   • Offering support services to address any underlying issues contributing to the poor attendance, such as family difficulties or health concerns.
   • Implementing incentives and rewards for improved attendance to encourage students to attend school regularly.
   • Collaborating with external agencies, such as educational welfare services or social services, to provide additional support to families in need.
4. Meetings and Support: The school may arrange meetings with parents to discuss attendance concerns and develop action plans to improve attendance. This may involve providing resources or referrals to relevant support services.
5. Legal Measures: In cases of persistent or unaddressed poor attendance, the school may take legal measures, such as issuing penalty notices to parents or involving educational welfare officers. In extreme cases, legal action may be taken under the Education Act 1996.

Overall, the school’s aim is to work collaboratively with parents to address attendance issues and ensure that every child has the opportunity to benefit from regular attendance and full participation in school activities.

You find the full Attendance Policy here.