School can also help your child’s social skills such as making and developing friendships. A regular and punctual attendance pattern will help your child when they enter the world of work.

The link between attendance and attainment in school is clear. The more a pupil is in school the more they increase their opportunity to fulfil their potential.

  Click here for our attendance policy.

Punctuality

We are legally required to take a register of pupils first thing in the morning and in the afternoon. The government advises that schools can keep the register open for up to 30 minutes.  

This is 9:30am on a morning session and 1:30pm in the afternoon session.

Punctuality is important because if, for example, a child arrives 15 minutes late at school each day, they lose almost 2 weeks of education a year.

Holidays during term time

The law states that parents do not have a right to take their child out of school for a holiday during term time. Only in exceptional circumstances may a head teacher grant permission for leave.

The school governing body sets out the requirements for permission to be granted for term time leave. 

Parents who choose to take their child out of school without written permission from the school may be issued with a fixed penalty fine.

*Please see Leave of Absence request form at the bottom of this page. 

How can I help my child attend school regularly?

• Talk to your child about school

• Take a positive interest in your child's work.

• Make use of school diary

• Keep in touch with school staff

• Contact school on the first day of absence if your child is unable to attend for whatever reason

• Attend parents' evenings and other school events

What are my responsibilities regarding my child's school attendance?

As a parent/carer it is your responsibility to ensure that any child of compulsory school age attends school both regularly and on time. The local authority has a duty to make sure that all parents/carers fulfil this responsibility.

What will happen if my child does not attend school regularly?

We will contact you in the first instance to raise concerns about your child’s attendance.

If we see no improvement, or there are particular difficulties involved, a referral will be made to the Education Welfare Service.

How can Education Welfare help?

The Education Welfare Service can:

• Advise you on your rights and responsibilities regarding school attendance

• Visit you and your child in your home to discuss difficulties

• Liaise with school staff on your behalf

• Meet with your child in school if necessary

• Accompany you to meetings in school

• Suggest other agencies that may be able to help

• Provide information about school transfers

• Refer you to the exclusions officer if your child has been excluded

• Provide further information on the consequences of irregular school attendance