The importance of excellent attendance
Education is a legal requirement for all children of compulsory school age and it is therefore the legal responsibility of every parent/ carer to ensure their children receives the education they are entitled to. Parents/ carers who send their children to a school have an additional legal duty to ensure their children attends that school regularly. This means that their children must attend the school every day it is open except in a small number of circumstances such as when a child is ill.
This is because excellent school attendance is vital to all children’s current and future success. As a result, the school aims for all children to have 100% attendance or an attendance rate no lower than 95%. Attendance below 95% can have a negative impact on children’s learning and progress. 90% would be a good score in a test but it is not a good rate of attendance. Children who have an attendance rate of 90% miss one day of school every two weeks. This adds up to a lot of missed learning:
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19 missed phonics lessons
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19 missed reading lessons
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19 missed writing lessons
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19 missed mathematics lessons
This can create big gaps in children’s learning which can make future learning more difficult. This is why it is essential parents/ carers send their children to school every day so they do not miss out on this vital learning and the opportunities education can provide.
Due to the importance of excellent attendance, the school does not authorise any term-time leave or holidays. It is essential that parents/ carers book holidays outside of term time. Parents/ carers who take their children out of school for a holiday will be issued with a Holiday Penalty Notice which can be up to £120.00 per parent/ carer resulting in fines potentially totalling £240.00.
The school will always endeavour to support parents/ carers with their children’s attendance and to overcome any issues they may be experiencing related to school attendance. Parents/ cares can contact Mrs Holland, Mr Howell or Mrs Virdee if they require any support in this area.