Attendance

Attendance matters... every day counts!

98 - 100%
4 days absence or fewer

Excellent
Excellent attendance. This helps all aspects of a child’s achievement and life in school. This will give them a good start in life and supports a positive work ethic.

97%

5 - 6 days absence

Good

Good attendance. We would like parents/carers to focus on improving attendance to move to excellent attendance at school.

96%

7 - 7½ days absence

Satisfactory

Satisfactory. Attendance may begin to affect a child’s achievement at school.

94 - 95%

9½ - 11½ days absence

Below Satisfactory

Below satisfactory attendance is likely to affect achievement at school. School contact the parent/carer directly to seek ways of working together to improve attendance.

92 - 93%

13½-15½ days absence

Low

Low attendance is highly likely to affect achievement at school. Home and school will share strategies for improvement. If improvement is not achieved, a referral is made to the School Attendance Officer. A Fixed Penalty Notice will be considered where absence is not authorised.

90 - 91%

17 - 19 days absence

Exceptionally Low

Absence is causing serious concern, having a highly detrimental impact on the child’s attainment and progress. Meetings between home and school to share strategies for improvement will be called. If improvement is not achieved, a referral is made to the School Attendance Officer. A Fixed Penalty Notice will be considered where absence is not authorised.

Under 90%

20 days absence or more

Persistent Absentee

A pupil with attendance below 90% is classified as a persistent absentee. They will have been absent for at least 20 days of school (4 weeks). Absence is causing very serious concern and having an extremely detrimental impact on the child’s attainment and progress. Frequent meetings between home and school to share strategies for improvement will be called. A referral is made to the School Attendance Officer. A Fixed Penalty Notice will be considered where absence is not authorised.

In line with our Attendance Policy, parents/carers must telephone the school to inform us of the reason for their child’s absence on each day of absence (unless the illness is prolonged, e.g. chicken pox). Voicemail messages are listened to before the start of the school day. Where no explanation is received, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised. A written explanation of absence, including dates of absence, must be provided as soon as the child returns to school. Where a child is absent from school immediately before or after a school holiday, or for a period of three days or more, we will request medical documentation.