Attendance matters

At Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School, we are dedicated to ensuring every pupil reaches their full potential. Excellent attendance is essential to achieving this as it

  • improves academic outcomes
  • supports social development
  • builds positive habits for the future.

All children have the right to an education, and parents and carers have a legal responsibility to ensure their child attends school regularly and arrive on time.

Good attendance

Regular attendance is really important for every child’s learning and wellbeing. In our school, we work hard to create a warm and welcoming environment where every child feels valued and included. We want all pupils to know that they matter and that their presence makes a difference. The children know they are missed when they are absent or late, helping them to feel a real sense of belonging.

When children attend school every day and arrive on time, they are able to make the most of their learning, build strong friendships and feel part of our school community.

We ask parents and carers to support this by ensuring their child attends regularly and punctually. Working together, we can help every child to thrive and reach their full potential.

At Corpus Christi Catholic Primary, our expectation is that all pupils strive for 100% attendance with target of 97% and above. If a child’s attendance is below 90.9%, they are classed by the government as a persistent absentee. 90% attendance is equal to ½ day absence per week or 1 day off each fortnight!

 

Where attendance is below target, both challenge and support will be provided to help improve this as statistics show a direct link between underachievement and low attendance.

Research by the Department for Education shows that there is a clear link between increased school attendance and higher educational performance across all pupils from all backgrounds, leading to better life opportunities and the best outcomes that an individual can achieve. For example, children in Year 6 with 95–100% attendance have a 30% higher possibility of reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths compared to pupils who attend 90–95% of the time.

The UK's Chief Medical Officer wrote to all schools showing how regular attendance is vital to the life chances of young people; it is important not just for a child’s learning but also for their overall wellbeing, wider development and their mental health. Every single day in school, there are plenty of important moments which make a positive difference for children.

Setting good attendance patterns from an early age will also help children later on because employers want to recruit people who are reliable.

Parents and carers have a legal duty to ensure their child attends school regularly and they play a key role in making attendance a priority. Please make every effort to arrange medical appointments outside of school hours whenever possible and always avoid holidays in term time.  A child should only be kept off school when they are too ill to attend.  In all cases of absence, the  school should be informed  by 9.15am with the reason for the absence and where the child will be as a home visit may be carried out.

 

Should I keep my child off school?

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Ways to ensure hands are kept clean to reduce the risk of spreading germs (NHS)

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/

 

Sunscreen and how to keep safe in the sun (NHS)

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/sunscreen-and-sun-safety/

 

Unauthorised absences

An unauthorised absence in primary school occurs when a child misses school without a valid reason, or when the school does not approve the reason provided by the parent or carer. While parents or carers must provide an explanation for absences, the legal authority to authorise leave lies solely with the headteacher.

What Constitutes Unauthorised Absence

  • Holidays in Term Time: A holiday is generally not considered an exceptional circumstance and is unauthorised.
  • Unexplained Absence: Failing to inform the school why a child is absent.
  • Unacceptable Reasons: Absences for birthdays, shopping trips, days out, or waiting for a delivery.
  • Persistent Lateness: Arriving after the register has officially closed.
  • Lack of Evidence: Failing to provide medical evidence (e.g., prescription) when requested for a sickness-related absence.

 

Monitoring attendance

Attendance is monitored on a weekly basis and across each term to ensure all children have the best opportunity to succeed. Where attendance becomes a concern, parents and carers are contacted to discuss how we can work together. Following this, attendance is closely monitored to assess progress and help secure sustained improvements. All parents and carers receive updates on attendance at parent consultations twice a year and within annual reports.

 

Fixed penalty notices

Fixed penalty notices are used for unauthorised term-time holidays,10+ sessions of unauthorised absence, or finding a child in a public place during school hours during the first 5 days of exclusion.

Punctuality

It is important that children arrive at school on time so they can begin the day in a calm and positive way. Arriving late can be unsettling for both the child and the class, and results in missed learning.

Pupils arriving after the main gate has closed must be signed in at the school office by a parent or carer and the reason for the lateness recorded. If a child arrives more than 30 minutes after the register has closed, this will be recorded as a U code (late after registration closes) which counts as an absence for the morning session.

Persistent lateness is monitored and will be followed up by the school.