Attendance and Holiday
Regular attendance helps children feel part of the school community. It allows them to learn effectively, build friendships, take part in clubs and trips, and benefit from the routines that are so important for their wellbeing. Being in school, with teachers and friends, is the best way for pupils to learn and reach their full potential.
That is why school attendance is so important, and why the Government and Belford Primary School are committed to addressing any issues that might prevent children from attending school regularly.
The Law on School Attendance
Every child of compulsory school age is entitled to a full-time education, and it is a parent’s legal responsibility to ensure their child receives it. Where a child is on roll at a school, parents have a duty to make sure they attend regularly.
This means children must attend every day that school is open, unless:
- they are too unwell to attend, or
- the school has given prior permission for absence in exceptional circumstances.
Attendance directly impacts learning outcomes. Pupils with the highest attainment at the end of Year 6 and Year 11 typically have higher rates of attendance. Every day in school matters. Missing just one day is the equivalent of five lessons lost – and over time, this really adds up:
|
Attendance in one school year |
Days absent |
Weeks absent |
Approx. lessons missed |
|
95% |
9 days |
2 weeks |
45 lessons |
|
90% |
19 days |
4 weeks |
95 lessons |
|
85% |
29 days |
6 weeks |
145 lessons |
Attendance Challenges
We understand that sometimes children may find it difficult to attend school. Common challenges include:
- Minor illness: Children can still attend school with coughs, colds, headaches, or tiredness. If you are unsure, please send your child in and let us know. We will always contact you if they become too unwell to remain in school.
- Anxiety or reluctance to attend: If your child is worried about school, please contact us straight away. Early communication means we can work with you to support your child and put strategies in place.
- Medical appointments: Wherever possible, appointments should be made outside school hours. If this is unavoidable, your child should attend before and/or after the appointment to minimise learning time missed.
- Family circumstances: If difficulties at home are affecting your child’s attendance, please talk to us in confidence. We may be able to offer support or signpost other services.
Working together and sharing concerns early helps us find solutions before patterns of absence become established.
When and How to Contact School
If your child is absent, you must:
- Notify the school on the first morning of absence by 9 am via telephone – 01668 213372. Please leave a voicemail if there is no one available to take your call.
- Provide a reason for the absence. If we do not hear from you, we are required to contact you to establish the reason for your child’s absence.
- Update the school each day your child is away, unless you have agreed otherwise with the attendance team.
If your child is absent without explanation and we cannot contact you, we may carry out a home visit as part of our safeguarding duty.
Term-Time Holidays
Holidays during term time will not be authorised unless there are exceptional circumstances. Requests must be made in advance, and decisions are made by the school