Attendance at St. John's Catholic Primary School

Good attendance is a key factor in ensuring that young people achieve their potential and have the best possible life chances. School attendance is directly linked to educational achievement, and promoting good attendance is a shared responsibility between students, parents, and the school community.

Why Good Attendance Matters

Regular attendance is crucial for children to:

• Achieve their full potential academically.
• Develop a positive attitude towards school and cultivate good habits of punctuality and attendance.
• See themselves as integral members of the school community, valuing and respecting school life.

At St. John's School, we understand that achieving good attendance can only be accomplished through a strong partnership between the school and parents.

Questions to Consider:

• Are you aware of your child’s current attendance and punctuality record?
• Do you understand what this record means in terms of their learning?
• Do you have regular conversations with your child about their attendance?
• Do you communicate with school when your child is absent?

Legal Responsibility of Parents

It is a legal obligation for parents and carers to ensure that their child attends school regularly. All children aged 5-17 must receive full-time education, and parents are responsible for making sure their child is in school, ready to learn.

• Children should be in school by 8:45 am and in class by 8:50 am for registration.
• If your child is going to be absent or late, please contact the school as soon as possible (e.g. for medical appointments or illness). Call the school office at 01295 263740 before 9:00 am when the registers close.
• If your child’s absence is due to illness, you may be asked to provide medical evidence to support their absence.

Understanding Attendance Percentages

Attendance of below 90% is considered poor, and students with attendance below this threshold are classified as “persistently absent.”

• 90% attendance means your child is missing half a day of school every week. Over the course of a school year, this amounts to 4 weeks of learning lost.

The Importance of Punctuality

Punctuality is just as important as attendance. Every minute your child misses impacts their learning and their opportunities.

• Arriving 5 minutes late every day equals 3 days lost each year.
• Arriving 15 minutes late every day is the equivalent of being absent for 2 weeks a year.
• Arriving 30 minutes late every day adds up to the same as missing 19 days of school in a year.

Improving Punctuality:

• Bedtime Routines: Set a time for devices to be turned off, pack school bags the night before, and ensure your child gets to bed earlier.
• Morning Routines: Set an earlier alarm, avoid television until after your child is ready for school, and encourage breakfast before leaving home.

• Preparation the Night Before: Lay out clothes and prepare lunch the evening before. This will help your child leave home without unnecessary delays.

• Stay Organised: Help your child keep track of their schedule and make sure they have everything they need for the day.

• Attendance and punctuality are closely monitored at St. John's School. Pupils with low attendance will be flagged and provided with additional support to help improve their attendance and ensure they do not miss out on important learning opportunities.
• 97% attendance or above is considered good. We strongly encourage parents to schedule appointments outside of school hours wherever possible.

Holidays during term time are not permitted and will not be authorised.

Together, we can ensure that your child receives the best possible education and makes the most of every opportunity at school.

Amendments to the registration regulations, which came into force in September 2013, make it clear that headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.

We kindly ask that all parents and carers carefully consider any request for leave and work with us to promote full attendance and ensure your child has access to uninterrupted education.

Please note that holidays taken during term time will be recorded as an unauthorised absence on your child's attendance record.

 Click here to complete the Absence Request form