At St Issey C of E Primary School, we believe that regular attendance is essential for every child’s success. We have high expectations and work closely with families to support excellent attendance.

We know children are more likely to attend regularly when school is a place they enjoy being. We work hard to make St Issey a welcoming, engaging and supportive environment where children feel valued, safe and excited to learn. Our curriculum is designed to be stimulating and purposeful, and we build strong relationships with families to help children feel a sense of belonging and connection to school life.

Why Attendance Matters

Good attendance is directly linked to better learning, stronger friendships and improved life chances. Even small amounts of missed time can have a big impact:

• 95% attendance = 10 days missed in a school year
• 90% attendance = 19 days missed – that’s almost 4 weeks of learning lost
• 85% attendance = 29 days missed – more than half a term lost

The Department for Education defines persistent absence as attendance below 90%. We want every child to be in school as much as possible so they don’t miss out on learning, experiences and opportunities.

Supporting Children Who Find Attendance Difficult

We know that some children experience anxiety or reluctance about coming to school. We always aim to work with families to understand the reasons behind this and put support in place. Reasonable adjustments might include:

• A gradual return plan, building up attendance over time
• A soft start to the day, such as arriving a few minutes early or settling in a quieter space
• Check-ins with a trusted adult at the start and end of the day
• Adjusting the classroom environment to reduce sensory overload
• Offering calming spaces or movement breaks during the day
• Close home–school communication to share progress and next steps
• Support from our SENDCo, pastoral staff or Mental Health Support Worker where needed

Our aim is always to work in partnership with you to remove barriers, reduce anxiety and help your child feel confident about attending school.

Absence from School

We understand that some absences are unavoidable. Absence may be authorised by the Headteacher if there is a valid reason. Examples include:

• Illness or medical appointments that cannot be scheduled outside school hours
• Religious observance
• A close family bereavement
• Meeting a parent who is on leave from the armed forces

It is important that you contact the school on the first day of absence by phoning 01841 540232.

Term-Time Leave

By law, headteachers cannot grant leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. This is set out in The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006, as amended.

Holidays are not considered exceptional circumstances and will not be authorised. Any unauthorised absence of this type will be referred to the Local Authority and may result in a penalty notice or prosecution.

Unauthorised absences are taken seriously as they may indicate that a child is not being supervised or is being withdrawn from education illegally.

Lateness and Punctuality

Arriving on time is an important part of good attendance. Being late can cause children to miss key parts of learning and disrupt the class.

We monitor lateness as well as overall attendance. If your child is frequently late, we will contact you to offer support. If punctuality does not improve, you may be invited to a meeting to discuss further action.

Working With Families

If we have concerns about your child’s attendance, we will always try to work with you to find solutions. This may include:

• A phone call or letter offering support
• An attendance meeting in school
• A home visit if necessary

If attendance does not improve despite support, the school may request involvement from the Local Authority, which could lead to a penalty notice or legal action.

Illness and Reporting Absence

If your child is unwell and unable to attend school, please let us know as soon as possible by calling 01841 540232 on the first day of absence. You may be asked to provide medical evidence for longer absences.