Attendance Matters

The Department for Education (DfE) is keen to improve attendance levels across schools nationally. The DfE wants schools and families to work together to ensure children are in school whenever possible (understanding that in certain cases there are genuine medical reasons for a child not to be attending school).

Why is good school attendance important?

Regular and punctual school attendance is essential to supporting a child or young person to flourish, fulfil their potential and enables them to:

• Learn.
• Make and manage friendships.
• Develop new skills.
• Have fun.
• Experience new things in the world around them.
• Develop awareness and respect of other cultures, religion, ethnicity, and gender differences.
• Build confidence and self-esteem.
• Achieve and thrive with a sense of belonging to their school community.
• Prioritise their well-being and happiness.
• Be given the best start in life, enabling the best possible choices in their future.

Missing school … missing out

When looking at attendance percentages, it is worth considering how much lost school time is involved:

How you can help your child or young person to have excellent attendance in school

• Always inform the school if your child is absent.
• Talk openly to your child about school and work in partnership with the school to best support them.
• Encourage your child to attend regularly and share any concerns with the school.
• Arrange medical or dental appointments outside of school hours when possible.
• Establish good morning and bedtime routines.
• Support your child to arrive at school on time.
• Take truancy seriously – consider where are they? Who are they with? What are they doing?
• Where possible attend parent consultations and school events.
• Value and acknowledge achievements in school.
• Take family holidays, visit family outside of term time.