Welcome from Mr Colin Hirons - Attendance Lead

Welcome to our Attendance pages. We hope that the information we share is both of interest and use.

Let's begin by addressing the simple but vital issue of why school attendance is so important. 

Being in school is important to your child’s achievement, wellbeing, and wider development. Evidence shows that the pupils with the highest attendance throughout their time in school gain the best results. Research found that pupils who performed better both at the end of primary and secondary school missed fewer days than those who didn’t perform as well.

Being around teachers and friends in a school or college environment is the best way for pupils to learn and reach their potential. Time in school also keeps children safe and provides access to extra-curricular opportunities and pastoral care.  

Every moment in school counts, and days missed add up quickly. For example, a child in Year 4 who is absent for three days over a half term could miss 15 lessons in total.  The higher a pupil’s attendance, the more they are likely to learn, and the better they are likely to perform in exams and formal assessments.  

That’s why school attendance is so important and why our school is committed to tackling the issues that might cause some children to miss school unnecessarily.

If there is any further advice, guidance, support or information you require, we are always more than happy to help.

St. Michael's CofE First School - Attendance Data 2023-24

Whole School Attendance 

Attendance at St Michael's CofE First School

Attendance Expectations & Procedures

The school must:

• Record attendance of each pupil for both morning and afternoon sessions

• Follow up absences and identify authorised/unauthorised absences 

• Ensure any safeguarding actions are taken

The parents must:

• Ensure their children attend school on time each day

• Inform the school of any reasons for a child’s absence on the first day of absence and each day there after until their child returns

• Avoid taking any holidays in term time

Attendance procedures at St Michael's CofE First School

• The school day begins at 8.50am and electronic registers are taken between 8:50am and 9.00am and at the start of the afternoon session each day

• Any pupil arriving between 9:01 and 9:05 am will be marked as late

• Any pupils not present after this time will be marked as 'late after registers close'

• All late pupils need to report to the school office and sign in

• The office must be notified of any absence before 9am

• If an absence is not reported the school office will contact the parents/guardians from 9:15am onwards

• All attendance calls are recorded

• Where there are safeguarding concerns, the attendance call is logged onto CPOMs

• Pupil attendance is monitored weekly

Monitoring Attendance

As part of our monitoring of attendance we conduct regular attendance audits. If we are concerned about your child’s attendance and the percentage drops to 90% or below we will contact you for an informal discussion about this and explore the reasons that are preventing your child from attending well. There are occasions when we will seek that support of the EWO (education welfare officer) if we are unable to resolve poor attendance and where we are concerned that poor attendance is a barrier to good educational outcomes.