Attending School: A Parent’s Guide

Working together to help every child thrive

Every Day Counts

At our school, we believe that every child deserves the best possible start in life — and attending school regularly plays a huge part in that.

When children come to school every day, they:

• Make steady progress in their learning
• Build confidence and self-belief
• Form lasting friendships
• Feel part of a caring and supportive community

We understand that sometimes life can be complicated, and getting to school every day isn’t always easy. But by working together, we can help your child feel happy, safe, and ready to learn.

When Your Child Can’t Attend

If your child is unwell or there’s another reason they can’t attend, please let us know as soon as you can.

We’ll do everything we can to support you and your child.

Here’s how you can help:

• Tell us right away if your child is ill or unable to attend.
• Try to plan medical or dental appointments outside school hours when possible.
• Speak with us early if you know your child will need time off for any reason — we’ll help you understand what’s possible.
• If requested, please share medical evidence (like a doctor’s note) so we can record the absence correctly.

Some absences can be authorised in special circumstances, such as a family bereavement or religious observance. However, term-time holidays can’t be authorised, and may result in a fine.

If you’re ever unsure — just talk to us. We’re here to help.

Why Attendance Matters

Children who attend school regularly:

• Find it easier to keep up with lessons
• Feel more connected and confident
• Have better emotional wellbeing and social skills
• Are more likely to achieve their potential

When attendance drops, children can sometimes feel anxious, fall behind in their work, or struggle socially — but together, we can turn things around.

Your Role and the Law

As a parent or carer, you play the most important role in your child’s education.

By law, children aged 5 to 16 must receive a suitable, full-time education, either at school or through other approved arrangements.

If a pupil has 10 or more unauthorised absences within a 10-week period, the Local Authority may issue a fine or notice to improve.

In very serious cases, this could lead to legal action — but please know, this is always a last resort.

Our goal is to support, not punish. We’ll always work with you first to understand what’s happening and find positive solutions.

If Attendance Becomes Difficult

If your child’s attendance starts to fall, we’ll reach out — not to blame, but to listen.

We’ll invite you to an Attendance Improvement Meeting (AIM) where we can talk openly about what’s going on and how we can help.

Sometimes, families face challenges that make attending school harder. Whether it’s illness, anxiety, transport issues, or other family pressures — please let us know.

We can connect you with help and guidance, and we’ll take every step together.

Let’s Work Together

We’re here to support your family and ensure your child gets the most out of every school day.

If you’re worried about attendance or need advice, please reach out to us.

Together, we can help your child enjoy learning, build confidence, and achieve their best.

We believe in partnership, and we’re always here to help.