We aim to ensure that all children attend school regularly and on time to enable them to take full advantage of the educational opportunities available. Regular, punctual attendance is valued and positively encouraged for all of our pupils.
Some pupils find it harder than others to attend school. This policy sets out how school staff will work with pupils, parents, and partners to promote, encourage and support regular attendance at school and remove any barriers to attendance. We as a school have fully considered our obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and considerations under the UN Conventions on the Rights of the Child.
We are committed to the following:
- a welcoming, stimulating and safe learning environment;
- listen to parents and pupils to understand barriers to attendance
- build trusted relationships with parents and pupils where attendance concerns can be discussed, understood.
- high expectations of our pupils and all staff;
- a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum;
- recognise and celebrate achievements in all areas of school life;
- equal access to all aspects of the curriculum and school life;
- high quality teaching using a variety of teaching strategies;
- a range of resources that are effectively used to support and challenge learning;
- provide experiences, which will develop our pupils’ spiritual, moral and cultural understanding;
- support, guidance and training for all those who teach and work with our children;
- foster and maintain links with our wider community.
Expected Levels of Attendance:
Attending school regularly and on time has a positive impact on learning, progress and therefore the best life chances for pupils. Research shows that attendance and punctuality are important factors in school success.
Our school day begins at 8:45am and finishes at 3:15pm.
Below is a graph showing how being late to school every-day over a school year adds up to lost learning time.
Celebration and Expectation
We expect the following from all of our pupils:
- To attend school regularly.
- To arrive on time and appropriately prepared for the day, ready to learn.
- To talk to a member of staff about any problem or reason that may prevent them from attending school.
As part of our review of attendance recognition, feedback was gathered from parents and carers, staff, Governors and pupils in 2025/26.
Parent and Carer survey results indicated that 45.9% were in favour of continuing to reward attendance, 27% preferred rewards for individual attendance only, and 27% felt we should not continue with attendance rewards. Feedback from Teachers and Governors showed that 70% supported continuing to recognise attendance, while 30% preferred to discontinue.
Children contributed through structured class discussions with their teachers. While views across all groups were mixed, the majority felt that attendance should continue to be acknowledged within the school. Pupils expressed a strong preference to move away from individual rewards such as Dojo points, instead favouring whole‑class attendance celebrations once per term that reflect the collective effort made in attending school each day. In line with this, the school will provide termly whole‑class attendance events or activities agreed and chosen by each class with their teacher, such as additional playtime or a class‑chosen activity; ensuring all rewards align with our ethos of belonging, caring, and inclusive celebration.
Whole‑school attendance data will continue to be shared in the weekly newsletter, and individual attendance figures will be discussed at Parent Meetings in the Autumn and Spring Terms, and reported termly and in the End of Year School Report.
We expect the following from parents and carers:
- To ensure their children attend school regularly and punctually.
- To notify the school of your child’s absence- on each morning of absence and provide a specific reason for the absence.
- To ensure that their children arrive in school well prepared for the school day.
- To talk to a member of school staff about any problem or reason that may prevent them from attending school.
- Inform the School of up-to-date contact numbers and details.
Schools are required to hold more than one emergency contact per child (KCSIE 2025). Emergency contact numbers should be provided and updated by the parent with whom the pupil normally resides.
Parents and pupils can expect the following from school:
- Early contact with parents when a pupil fails to attend school without providing good reason;
- Regular, efficient and accurate recording of attendance.
- To inform parents if a pupil’s attendance falls below expected levels.
- To listen and understand the barriers to school attendance and offer appropriate support and agree appropriate plans to improve attendance.
- Follow up support if needed.
- When a child is absent and the school cannot contact parents, those leading schools/responsible for attendance matters or safeguarding, will continue to try and make contact. Where necessary (and by the third day of absence at the latest), they will make a welfare visit to the home address to confirm the safety of the child. A record of attempts and contact will be made on the school’s system.
It is the requirement of school to inform the Local Authority when a child has 15 days absence due to illness, cumulative or consecutive – or when it is believed they will be unable to attend (The “section 19” duty).
Our attendance team:
Our procedures:
Illness:
Contact School Office – Open 8:30am to 4pm
Phone and report absence via answer phone service on option 2.
01935 812 619 or alternatively email: office@sherbornepri.dorset.sch.uk
Please DO NOT use School Dojo for attendance communications.
Not all illness requires an absence from school. For minor childhood ailments such as coughs, colds, ear aches we would not expect children to be absent. However, when a parent makes the assessment that their child is unfit for school, they should follow the above absence process. Please see the NHS website for further guidance: Is my child too ill for school?
If a child experiences diarrhoea or vomiting particularly when caused by a stomach bug or viral infection, they must remain off school for 48 hours after the last episode. This could include other symptoms like a cold and temperature. This helps prevent the spread of illness to other children and staff. However, we recognise that in rare circumstances sickness can sometimes be linked to a non‑contagious- explained issue, such as food allergies. In those cases, where symptoms are not related to an infectious illness and you have discussed this with Mrs Griffiths, your child would be permitted to attend school.
If a child is absent from school parents should contact the school on the first day of absence to inform the school of the reason for absence. Parents are expected to maintain contact with the school throughout the absence.
It is a school’s decision whether to accept a reason for a child’s absence and whether to authorise that absence. In the majority of cases, a parent’s explanation of their child’s illness can be accepted without question or concern. In circumstances where there are concerns about a child’s attendance or reason for absence, further evidence of a child’s illness may be requested.
Leave of absence request
Parents are required to complete a Term Time Leave of Absence Request Form in advance of planned absence taking place.
We ask that this is at least four weeks before the required absence, where possible, to enable the school to consider and respond to the request. Parents must detail and evidence the exceptional circumstance of the request.
In accordance with The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 and subsequent Amendments, SAST Schools are unable to authorise any period of absence unless it is for exceptional circumstances.
If leave is not authorised and the parent proceeds to take their child out of school, the absence will be marked as unauthorised. Although such absence may be unauthorised, it is better that the school knows where the child is, and that they are safe rather than missing.
Parents may be issued with a penalty notice or be subject to prosecution by the local authority for unauthorised leaves of absence.
Medical Appointments
Parents should avoid making routine medical appointments and dental appointments during the school day. In the majority of cases, appointments can be made outside of the school day/during the school holidays.
Where appointments have to be taken during the school day, only the time for the appointment and travel to and from will be classed as an authorised absence.
Pupils are expected to return to school for the remainder of the day/attend school prior to the appointment.
Parents are required to provide a copy of an appointment letter or card prior to the day of the appointment.
Other Reasons for Absences:
Other reasons for absence must be discussed with the school on each occasion.
Notes will not necessarily be accepted as providing valid reasons.
The school will follow DFE guidance and not authorise absences for shopping, birthdays or child minding.
If we do not receive notification of your child’s absence, it will be assumed that your child is on their way to school and if they do not arrive, the absence will be followed up accordingly.
We will contact you by telephone if your child fails to arrive at school after the register has closed and no parental contact has been made. If, at the time the attendance register is taken, an absence is recorded in that register using the code N . We will ensure that reasonable steps are taken to establish the circumstances of your child’s absence and that the register is amended within five school days.
Religious Observance
We recognise that children of certain faiths may need to participate in days of religious observance and that this may be a reason given for a leave of absence request.
Where a day of religious observance falls during school time and has been exclusively set apart for religious observance by the religious body to which the child belongs – the absence from school will be authorised. Parents are requested to give advance notice if they intend their child to be absent.
Evidence from the religious body may be required.
