Attendance / Absence

Attendance

The Importance of Attendance

At St Philip's, we believe that excellent attendance is fundamental to a child's success, wellbeing and sense of belonging. Every day in school matters. Regular attendance supports academic achievement, social development, friendships and emotional wellbeing.

Research consistently shows a strong link between high attendance and positive educational outcomes. Children who attend school regularly are more likely to achieve well, feel connected to their school community and develop the skills they need for later life.

We are committed to working in partnership with parents and carers to ensure that every child attends school regularly and receives the full benefit of the education and opportunities available to them.

Our Expectations

We expect all pupils to:

• Attend school every day unless they are genuinely unwell or there are exceptional circumstances.
• Arrive at school on time and ready to learn.
• Take full advantage of the learning and wider opportunities available to them.

We expect all parents and carers to:

• Ensure their child attends school regularly and punctually.
• Notify the school as soon as possible on the first day of any absence.
• Work with the school to address any issues affecting attendance.
• Arrange medical and dental appointments outside of the school day wherever possible.
• Understand and fulfil their legal responsibility to ensure their child receives a full-time education.

Punctuality Matters

Being on time for school is just as important as attending regularly.

At St Philip's, we operate a soft start from 8:40am, allowing children time to settle into school, prepare for the day ahead and speak with their friends and teachers. The school day officially begins at 8:50am, when registers are taken and learning starts.

Children who arrive late can miss important information, early learning activities, phonics, reading, maths fluency work and key instructions that help them feel confident and prepared for the day ahead. Arriving late can also leave children feeling unsettled and make it more difficult for them to engage fully with learning.

Persistent lateness can have a significant impact over time:

Late arrivals also impact the wider school community. When children arrive after the start of the school day, staff are required to interrupt teaching, welcome children into school, complete registration procedures and support them in joining their class. This takes staff away from supporting other pupils and can disrupt learning for the whole class.

We therefore ask all families to make full use of our soft start period and ensure that children arrive at school in good time so they are ready to begin learning promptly at 8:50am.

Leave of Absence During Term Time

The Government's regulations make it clear that Headteachers may not grant leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Family holidays, availability of cheaper travel, family celebrations or events are not normally considered exceptional circumstances and will not usually be authorised.

Each request is considered on its individual merits, taking into account the specific circumstances and the impact on the child's education.

Parents and carers should complete a Leave of Absence Request Form Note: it is necessary to have the request signed by all parents/carers and submit this to the school before making any travel arrangements. Requests should be made as far in advance as possible.

Unauthorised Absence and Penalty Notices

Where leave is taken without authorisation, or where a child has a significant level of unauthorised absence, the school may refer the matter to the Local Authority's Attendance & Welfare Support Service (AWSS).

In line with Local Authority and Department for Education guidance, this may result in the issue of a Penalty Notice or further legal action.

The school takes attendance seriously and will always seek to work with families to improve attendance before concerns become more significant.

Working Together

If you are experiencing difficulties that may affect your child's attendance, please contact the school as soon as possible. We are committed to supporting families and working together to ensure every child has the best possible opportunity to thrive and succeed.

Why Every Day Matters

It can be surprising how quickly absence adds up over the course of a school year.

*Based on a 190-day school year.

A child with 90% attendance misses almost one day every two weeks. While this may seem a small amount at the time, it can result in significant gaps in learning, friendships and wider school experiences.

Over a child's primary education, attendance of 90% could mean missing approximately half a school year of learning. Even occasional days off can make it more difficult for children to keep up with new learning, develop confidence and maintain strong friendships.

The Department for Education identifies pupils with attendance below 90% as persistently absent. Children whose attendance falls below this level are at a significantly greater risk of underachievement and disengagement from school.

Every lesson counts and we encourage all families to make attendance a priority wherever possible.

Attendance is everyone's responsibility. By working together, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to achieve their full potential.