There is a clear link between poor attendance at school and lower academic achievement. Of pupils who miss more than 50% of school only 3% manage to achieve 5 or more GCSE’s at grades A* to C including Maths and English. Whereas 73% of pupils who have over 95% attendance achieve 5 or more GCSE’s at Grades A* to C.
What’s behind attendance:
97% = Average of 6 days absence within the academic year.
96% = Average of 2 weeks absence within the academic year.
90% = Average of 20 days absence equalling 4 weeks within the academic year making it difficult to achieve their best. This also equates to at least 80 lessons missed a year.
80 – 90% = Average of 38 days equalling 8 weeks. They are missing so much time from school that it will be difficult for them to keep in touch with lessons or set work.
80% and below = They are missing so much time from school that it will be impossible for them to keep in touch with lessons or work.
70% = 57 days absence equalling 11.5 weeks.
I hope this has helped you to understand the impact of poor attendance on your child and the importance of ensuring your child is best supported to attend school every day.
What can parents do to help their children:
1: Try to make all medical appointments (doctors, dentist and hospital) out of school time.
2: Encourage your child to take responsibility for being on time for school. Try to make sure your child has a realistic bedtime and will not be too tired to get up in the morning for school. Get bags, books and other equipment prepared the night before encouraging your child to be part of this.
3: Discourage your child from staying over at a friends on a school night if this is likely to lead to them having a late night, which would cause them tiredness and the possibility of being late in the morning.
4: Book any holidays or trips out of term time.
5: Encourage your child to come to school even if they are feeling slightly unwell. Many aches and pains are forgotten when they are in school and with friends and the school will contact you if deemed necessary. You could give your child Calpol prior to coming into school and let the office staff know how they feel.
6: Talk positively about going to school. Do not say “if you feel poorly the school will send you home”.
7: If you have any concerns for your child within school please DO NOT hesitate to let us know.
Incentives to support good attendance starting from next term:
1: As already in place there will be a class each week with the best attendance. From the new term the class each week with the best attendance will be given chairs to sit on everyday within assembly.
2: The % of staff’s attendance will be put up with the children’s attendance each week.
3: At the end of each term the class with the overall highest attendance will be rewarded with a tea party.
4: From the start of the new term your child’s attendance will be looked at on a weekly basis if it falls below 96%. You will receive a call and/or letter to discuss this and if there is any further need of support.
We hope you are able to be part of this for your children by encouraging their attendance and supporting their punctuality to arrive in school on time.
Education gives children future choices
The law states that schools have to closely monitor attendance and have a legal obligation to inform the Educational Welfare Service when a child’s attendance falls below 90%. Once with the Educational Welfare Service this could lead to parents receiving fines and/or prosecution which can further lead to a custodial sentence. Millfield WANT to prevent this and therefore please DO NOT hesitate to arrange an appointment through the office if for any reason you are having any difficulties in supporting your child’s attendance.
Referral for Term Time Leave
Any parent who takes a child out of school for term time leave for 10 consecutive sessions (5 days) or more, not authorised by the school (under exceptional circumstances rule), may receive a Penalty Notice.
Schools may also request prosecution, in exceptional circumstances where a parent takes a child out of school during term time for an extended period (20 days or more).