Attendance and Punctuality
At Boarshaw Primary School, we want every child to feel that they belong, enjoy coming to school and have the best possible opportunity to learn, develop friendships and thrive. Good attendance matters because every day in school gives children opportunities to learn, build confidence and take part in school life.
Working together with families
We know that there can be many reasons why a child may find attending school difficult. Our approach is to work with families, not against them. We will listen, seek to understand the barriers affecting attendance and work with parents, carers, pupils and other professionals to put appropriate support in place.
The Department for Education's statutory guidance follows a clear approach: expect, monitor, listen and understand, facilitate support, formalise support where needed and use enforcement only where appropriate.
What we ask parents and carers to do
• Make sure your child attends school every day that they are well enough to do so and arrives on time.
• Contact school as soon as possible on the first day your child is absent and tell us the reason.
• Keep us informed if an absence continues.
• Arrange routine medical and dental appointments outside school hours wherever possible.
• Talk to us early if your child is worried about school or there are difficulties affecting attendance - we want to help.
Our Attendance system
At Boarshaw Primary School, we use Attend, an attendance monitoring system, to help us keep a close eye on every child’s attendance and punctuality. Attend helps us identify patterns or changes in attendance early so that we can celebrate improvements and offer support before attendance becomes a concern.
The system also helps us communicate regularly with parents and carers. You may receive messages through Attend to celebrate good or improved attendance, let you know when your child’s attendance has fallen, or explain when we would like to work with you to improve attendance or punctuality.
Our aim is always to work in partnership with families. Attend helps us identify where support may be needed and ensures that every child has the best possible opportunity to be in school, learning and thriving.
Every day counts and Every Moment Matters.
If attendance becomes a concern
We monitor attendance carefully so that we can identify concerns early. If we notice a pattern of absence or punctuality difficulties, we will contact you. We may invite you to meet with us so that we can understand what is happening and agree the right support. This may include help from our school team or, where appropriate, other services.
We recognise that some pupils, including pupils with SEND, disabilities, medical needs or difficult family circumstances, may face additional barriers to attendance. Support will be considered according to the individual child's circumstances and needs.
When your child is unwell
Children should stay at home when they are too unwell to attend school. If you are unsure whether your child should attend, please contact the school office for advice. For medical and dental appointments during the school day, please let us know in advance where possible and return your child to school afterwards if they are well enough.
Term-time leave
Parents should not normally take children out of school during term time. A leave of absence can only be granted by the Headteacher where the circumstances are considered exceptional. Unauthorised absence may result in further action in line with national and local attendance procedures.
Attendance and safeguarding
Attendance is also an important part of safeguarding. If a child is unexpectedly absent and we have not received a reason, we will contact parents/carers. Where we are unable to establish that a child is safe, or where an absence causes a safeguarding concern, we will follow our safeguarding procedures.
Our attendance policy
Our full Attendance and Punctuality Policy explains our school procedures, how attendance and punctuality are monitored, the support available to families and the steps that may be taken when attendance remains a concern. A copy of the policy is attached below.
National guidance for parents
Our approach is informed by the Department for Education's statutory guidance, Working together to improve school attendance, and the government's parent information about school attendance and absence.
• DfE: Working together to improve school attendance
• GOV.UK: School attendance and absence - information for parents
Worried about your child's attendance?
Please contact school as early as possible. We would much rather work with you to remove barriers and help your child attend successfully.
Every day matters. Every child matters. Every moment matters.