Attendance & Punctuality | St Mary's Catholic Primary School

Attendance Policy

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School

Introduction

At St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, regular school attendance is not only a legal and educational expectation—it is a sacred duty rooted in our Catholic mission to nurture the whole child in mind, body, and spirit. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that parents are the primary educators of their children , and by ensuring consistent attendance, families honour their vocation to guide their children in truth and love. Each school day offers a unique opportunity for pupils to encounter Christ through prayer, scripture, sacramental preparation, and the lived Gospel values that permeate our curriculum and community. When children are present, they participate in the Eucharistic life of the school, engage in acts of charity, and grow in virtues such as perseverance, humility, and compassion. Absence from school disrupts not only academic progress but also spiritual formation, social development, and the sense of belonging that is central to Catholic education. As Pope Francis reminds us, “Education is an act of love, it is like giving life.” At St Mary’s, we believe that every child is a gift from God, and we are entrusted with helping them flourish. Regular attendance ensures that children are fully immersed in the rhythm of Catholic life—celebrating liturgical seasons, learning to pray together, and understanding their role as stewards of creation and builders of peace. It is through daily presence that pupils learn to live out the Beatitudes, respond to the call of discipleship, and prepare to serve the common good. In this way, attendance is not merely a routine, it is a reflection of our shared commitment to forming children who are academically capable, morally grounded, and spiritually alive.

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is committed to delivering high-quality education within a nurturing, faith-filled environment. We recognise that regular and punctual attendance is not only a legal requirement but a fundamental prerequisite for academic success, personal development, and safeguarding.

This policy is underpinned by statutory guidance from the Department for Education, including: • School Attendance: Guidance for Maintained Schools, Academies, Independent Schools and Local Authorities • Keeping Children Safe in Education • Children Missing Education

It reflects our duty to safeguard children, promote their welfare, and ensure that every pupil has access to the full breadth of educational opportunities.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all stakeholders—pupils, parents and carers, staff, governors, and external agencies—understand the importance of regular school attendance and their respective roles in promoting it.

Research consistently shows a strong link between attendance and achievement. Pupils who attend school regularly are more likely to: • Achieve academic success • Develop secure friendships and social skills • Maintain emotional and mental wellbeing • Benefit from the structure and routine of school life • Be safeguarded from risks outside the school environment

Conversely, poor attendance can lead to gaps in learning, social isolation, and increased vulnerability.

Our Commitment

As a Catholic school, we believe that every child is a unique gift from God, and we are committed to helping each one flourish. Our attendance strategy supports the wider aims of our school mission:

To promote healthy lifestyles and emotional wellbeing • To ensure pupils feel safe, valued, and respected • To foster enjoyment and engagement in learning • To encourage positive contributions to the school and wider community • To prepare pupils for future success and economic independence

We aim to achieve consistently high attendance across the school, with a target of 95 percent or above for all pupils. We recognise that attendance for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities may require a more nuanced and supportive approach, and we are committed to w

School Objectives

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is committed to promoting high levels of attendance as a foundation for academic achievement, personal development, and safeguarding. Our objectives are to:

Improve overall pupil attendance across all year groups
Foster a school culture in which children are motivated and excited to attend each day
Embed attendance as a shared priority among pupils, parents, staff, and governors
Establish a clear framework that defines roles and responsibilities and ensures consistency in practice
Implement a robust system for monitoring, analysing, and responding to attendance data
Provide timely support and guidance to parents and carers to address attendance concerns
Recognise and respond to the individual needs of pupils returning from extended absence, ensuring successful reintegration
Maintain accurate and regularly updated attendance data to:
- Celebrate and reward excellent and improved attendance
- Promptly inform parents and carers of any concerns
- Monitor attendance trends at both individual and group levels

Roles and Responsibilities

Governing Body

The Governing Body will:

Meet regularly to review attendance data and monitor progress against school and national benchmarks, including SEND-specific targets
Ensure the effective implementation of this policy and hold leaders to account for attendance outcomes

Headteacher – Mrs Samantha Griffiths

The Headteacher holds overall responsibility for the strategic implementation and monitoring of this policy. This includes:

Developing and overseeing policies that promote a safe, inclusive, and aspirational learning environment
Reporting attendance data to the Governing Body and ensuring transparency
Promoting attendance as a high-profile priority across the school community
Delegating clear roles and responsibilities and ensuring staff are equipped with the time and resources to fulfil them
Allocating funding to support attendance reward systems and interventions
Ensuring attendance is regularly addressed in assemblies and that pupils with excellent or improved attendance are recognised and celebrated

School Business Manager – Mrs Nicola Pryce

Educational Welfare Officer – Mrs Alison Pike

Together, they will:

Ensure attendance and punctuality procedures are consistently applied across all year groups
Monitor for internal truancy and analyse patterns of absence, considering curriculum impact and other contributing factors
Support pupils on long-term absence or exclusion with access to learning and reintegration plans
Assist in meetings with families where attendance falls below expected thresholds (e.g. below 80 percent)
Analyse attendance data to identify pupils at risk and initiate timely interventions
Plan targeted strategies to address persistent absence and punctuality concerns in line with school priorities

School Administrator

The Administrator will:

Monitor registers daily and ensure accurate coding of attendance
Make first-day contact with parents/carers regarding unexplained absences
Notify the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) of any absence involving vulnerable pupils by 9:15am
Issue attendance-related correspondence to parents/carers
Alert relevant staff to emerging attendance concerns
Provide fortnightly attendance reports to the attendance team
Supply attendance data to the Governing Body and external agencies as required (e.g. census submissions)

Class Teachers

Class teachers play a vital role in promoting and supporting attendance. They will:

Take registers promptly and accurately using correct codes
Liaise with the attendance team regarding pupil concerns
Welcome pupils back following absence and support them in catching up on missed learning
Use attendance data to monitor and comment on pupil engagement, praising those with excellent or improved attendance
Address barriers to attendance such as bullying, academic difficulties, or travel issues, and escalate concerns appropriately
Maintain a safe, inclusive classroom environment that encourages regular attendance
Set work for pupils absent for extended periods and ensure systems are in place for reintegration
Serve as positive role models by demonstrating consistent attendance and punctuality

Parental Responsibility

Parents and carers hold the primary legal responsibility for ensuring that children of compulsory school age (5 to 18 years), including those with a Statement of Special Educational Needs or an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), attend the educational provision authorised by their Local Authority.

This responsibility includes ensuring that children attend school regularly and punctually. Failure to secure regular attendance without a valid reason constitutes an offence under the Education Act 1996 and may result in legal action, including prosecution. St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is committed to working in partnership with families to promote and support consistent attendance and to address any barriers collaboratively and constructively.

Authorised and Unauthorised Absences

Authorised Absences

An absence will be authorised when the school receives a valid explanation from a parent or carer and the reason is deemed acceptable under Department for Education guidance. Examples include:

Illness, supported by appropriate evidence if requested (e.g. GP letter, prescription, appointment card)
Medical or dental appointments that cannot reasonably be scheduled outside school hours
Bereavement or attendance at a close family funeral
Religious observance
Exceptional circumstances, such as a family wedding (subject to prior approval)

Requests for planned absence must be submitted in advance using the school’s Absence Request Form, available from the school office. Evidence may be required to support the request.

Unauthorised Absences

An absence will be recorded as unauthorised when:

No explanation is provided
The reason given is not deemed valid by the school
The absence is for reasons such as shopping, caring for siblings, birthdays, or holidays in term time
A pupil arrives after the register has closed
Illness is reported without supporting evidence, where requested
A pupil refuses to attend without a valid reason

Persistent unauthorised absence may result in referral to the Local Authority. While support will be offered initially, continued non-compliance may lead to the issuance of a penalty notice or further legal proceedings.

Supporting Reluctant Attendance

If a child is reluctant or anxious about attending school, it is essential that parents or carers inform the school immediately. Early communication allows staff to implement appropriate support strategies and work with the family to address underlying concerns. The school is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment where all pupils feel valued and supported.

Parents and carers can promote regular attendance by:

Establishing consistent bedtime and morning routines
Preparing uniform and equipment in advance
Communicating academic or social concerns promptly
Maintaining open and honest dialogue with school staff
Reinforcing the importance of school attendance and punctuality

Illness and Medical Appointments

Parents and carers must notify the school before morning registration on the first day of a pupil’s absence due to illness. Daily contact is required for each subsequent day of absence unless otherwise agreed. Where appropriate, the school may request evidence to support the absence, such as:

Appointment cards or letters
Prescriptions or medication packaging with the pupil’s name
Confirmation from a healthcare professional

Where there are concerns about the volume or pattern of absence due to illness, the school may share relevant information with external safeguarding partners, including Family Connect or Children’s Services, in line with statutory safeguarding duties.

Parents and carers are expected to make every effort to schedule medical and dental appointments outside of school hours. Where this is not possible, pupils should attend school before and/or after the appointment to minimise lost learning time.

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School recognises that pupils’ additional needs may include significant health concerns and involve regular or unexpected medical support e.g. admission to hospital or attendance at specialist clinics. We will always seek to work with our pupils and their families to support good attendance and, where this is not possible, to support continued learning through initiatives such as home learning programs.

Holidays

Absence during term time can seriously disrupt pupils’ continuity of learning. Parents should avoid booking family holidays in term time. Parents do not have an automatic right to withdraw pupils from school for a holiday and must apply in writing for permission in advance. Holidays in term time will only be authorised in exceptional circumstances and this must be started by completing a holiday request form available from the office.

Absence and exceptional leave

At St Mary’s Catholic Primary School we believe that leave of absence during term time should be avoided as it can have a damaging effect on a child’s education and overall achievement. However, it is recognised that on occasions there may be extenuating or compassionate reasons that justify such leave. The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Amendment Regulations 2013 state that head teachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. The Headteacher will determine the number of school days a child can be away from school if the leave is granted. With regard to the regulation outlined above the school policy is as follows:

Parents must request leave for exceptional circumstances as far in advance as
The request should be made in writing using the leave of absence (Available from the school office) Requests cannot be made orally.
This must include the reason why parents/carers feel that it is necessary to take a leave of absence. This may include any extenuating or compassionate reasons, including evidence of circumstances such as medical certificate or letter from

On receipt of an application for leave on the appropriate form together with any supporting documentation, consideration will be given to the circumstance. An hard copy letter outlining the decision of the school will be sent to the applying parent/carer within 7 days.

Punctuality

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School places a high value on punctuality as a key component of a child’s educational success and personal development. All pupils are expected to arrive on time and be ready to engage in learning from the beginning of the school day. Late arrival not only disrupts the learning of the individual pupil but also impacts the learning environment for others.

School doors open at 8:35am
Morning registration takes place at 8:45am
The school day ends at 3:15pm

Pupils arriving after the close of registration will be marked as late, and persistent lateness will be monitored and addressed in line with the school’s attendance procedures. Where lateness becomes a recurring issue and is not resolved through early intervention and support, the matter may be referred to the Local Authority, which has the power to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice in accordance with the Education Act 1996.

Safeguarding

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all pupils. Regular attendance is a fundamental aspect of safeguarding. Unexplained or persistent absence may be an indicator of a safeguarding concern, including but not limited to:

Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
Neglect
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
Radicalisation
Substance misuse
Peer-on-peer abuse
Domestic abuse or trafficking

All staff are trained to recognise the signs of potential harm and understand their duty to report concerns in line with the school’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedures. The school will always seek to work in partnership with families to address attendance concerns sensitively and supportively. However, where safeguarding risks are identified, appropriate referrals will be made to external agencies without delay.

Children Missing Education (CME)

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School adheres to statutory guidance regarding Children Missing Education and recognises the serious safeguarding implications of unexplained or prolonged absence.

To support this:

The school must hold a minimum of three emergency contact numbers for each pupil, unless there is a legitimate reason why this is not possible (e.g. a parent fleeing domestic abuse).
Any pupil who goes missing from education will be treated as a matter of immediate concern. The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) will take prompt action to assess risk and initiate appropriate safeguarding procedures.
Staff are trained to identify warning signs and risk indicators associated with children missing education, including potential exposure to FGM, forced marriage, trafficking, or travel to conflict zones.
Where a pupil is absent without prior notification, the school will make every reasonable effort to contact parents or carers and other listed emergency contacts on the same day. This process will be repeated for each day of unexplained absence.
In the case of a pupil subject to a Child Protection Plan, any unexplained absence will be reported to the child’s allocated social worker within one working day.

Children Missing Education (CME) and Attendance Escalation Procedures

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is committed to safeguarding all pupils and ensuring that every child receives their full entitlement to education. In accordance with statutory guidance, the school follows rigorous procedures when a pupil fails to attend as expected.

Immediate Response to Unexplained Absence

Where a pupil does not arrive at school as expected, the school will make immediate efforts to establish the child’s whereabouts and wellbeing using all available contact details, including primary and emergency contacts.
If no contact can be made with any listed emergency contacts, a member of staff may conduct a home visit, subject to a risk assessment.
If the pupil or a responsible adult cannot be located, the school will escalate the concern to the Local Authority and, where appropriate, the police.
Regardless of initial risk assessment outcomes, if a pupil remains absent for a second consecutive day without explanation from a named contact, the school will notify the Local Authority and, if necessary, the police.

Escalation for Extended Absence

Where a pupil has been absent for 10 consecutive school days and no professional contact has been made, and no medical evidence has been provided despite parental communication, staff will make further efforts to visually confirm the child’s wellbeing.
The Attendance Officer will report any pupil who has been newly registered but fails to attend on their expected start date to the Local Authority immediately.
Continued absence of a pupil known or suspected to have travelled overseas will be reported to the Education Welfare Service if the child does not return on the expected date.

Register Management and Off-Rolling

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School maintains accurate attendance and admissions registers in line with statutory requirements.
Pupils will not be removed from the admissions register without prior notification to, and approval from, the Local Authority.
Staff will alert the Local Authority immediately if:
- A pupil is withdrawn for elective home education
- A pupil ceases to attend and no alternative provision is identified
- A pupil is certified as medically unfit to attend or is detained in custody
Where a pupil’s destination is unknown and cannot be established after reasonable follow-up, the school will notify the Local Authority, Education Welfare Service, and/or Family Connect.

Maintaining accurate records and timely communication with the Local Authority is essential to ensure that children of compulsory school age are not missing education and are safeguarded from potential harm, neglect, or exploitation.

Statutory Guidance and Local Protocols

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School adheres to the Department for Education’s statutory guidance Children Missing Education (DFE-00261-2016) and local protocols agreed with Telford & Wrekin Council. The Attendance Officer will notify the Attendance and Educational Welfare Service of any pupil absent for 10 consecutive days without valid explanation. The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) will assess the child’s vulnerability and, where appropriate, initiate a referral to Children’s Social Care. A multi-agency meeting may be convened to address continued non-attendance, and relevant staff will be informed of outcomes.

Fixed-Term Exclusions

In the event of a fixed-term exclusion:

The school will issue written confirmation to the pupil’s parent/carer and, where applicable, the placing Local Authority (for exclusions exceeding five days).
The school will provide appropriate work for the pupil to complete during the exclusion period and ensure it is marked upon return.
During the exclusion period, the school is not responsible for the pupil’s safety or welfare while they are at home. Parents and carers retain full responsibility for supervision and safeguarding during this time.

Unexplained continuous absence

1st Day of Absence

All students not seen at registration should be marked as an unexplained (N) absence, unless tutors have prior knowledge and proof of the reason for the absence

The administration will phone home on the first day of absence if no explanation has been received.

A Parentmail will be sent on each day of absence if reason for absence is not provided and there is no contact from the family.

3rd Day of Continuous Absence

The administrator will phone home to follow up on the absence and a communication will be sent via Parentmail, requesting explanation for the absence. If no contact with family is made to obtain a reason for absence on the third day of absence, the school will call all contacts listed on child’s profile to raise concern and obtain information of student whereabouts. The EWO or a nominated member of staff will make a home visit.

Reintegration Following Absence

Where a pupil has experienced a prolonged absence, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School will develop a personalised reintegration plan to support their return to full-time education. This may include:

A phased return to school
Pastoral or academic support
Adjustments to the curriculum or timetable
Regular check-ins with staff

Parents and carers will be offered additional support where appropriate or upon request. The seriousness of prolonged absence will be clearly communicated, including the potential for legal intervention such as the issuance of a Penalty Notice. If no contact is made during home visits, a formal letter will be hand-delivered outlining the visit, the next steps, and requesting urgent contact with the school.

Continuous Absence Protocol

Fifth Day of Unexplained Absence

If a pupil has been absent for five consecutive school days without contact or explanation, and no information has been obtained through home visits, the school will escalate the matter to:

Educational Welfare Services
Family Connect
The police (where appropriate)

Tenth Day of Unexplained Absence

If the pupil remains absent for ten consecutive school days and no update has been received, the school will formally refer the case to Children Missing Education (CME) via Family Connect. No pupil will be removed from the school roll without prior notification to, and approval from, the Local Authority.

Where there are concerns about a pupil’s wellbeing or safety, or where the pupil is subject to a safeguarding plan, home visits may be conducted at any time to ensure the child remains safe.

Intermittent Absence

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School recognises that occasional illness is unavoidable. However, the school expects all pupils to maintain a minimum attendance rate of 95 percent annually. For pupils with medical conditions or SEND-related health needs, absences must be supported by appropriate medical evidence.

To minimise short-term absences, the school implements the following measures:

Daily phone calls to parents/carers to confirm absence and request supporting information
Termly attendance reports to keep families informed
Recognition and rewards for pupils achieving 100 percent attendance

Where a pupil’s attendance falls below the school’s minimum threshold of 90 percent, parents/carers will receive formal notification. In rare cases, the school may exercise discretion not to issue letters, though such instances will be exceptional. Pupils identified as persistently absent will be subject to the procedures outlined below.

Persistent Absence

Under the Education Act 1996, parents of children of compulsory school age who fail to attend school regularly may be guilty of an offence. The Department for Education defines persistent absence as attendance below 90 percent.

Where a pupil’s attendance is persistently low, the school will:

Issue a formal warning letter to parents/carers
Monitor the pupil’s attendance over a minimum six-week period (60 school sessions)
Provide support and intervention as appropriate

If attendance does not improve, the school will refer the case to the Educational Welfare Service, which may initiate the process for issuing a Penalty Notice. If improvement is noted, parents/carers will be informed and monitoring may continue.

Penalty Notices issued by Telford and Wrekin Council will be sent to each parent/carer responsible for the pupil’s attendance. Attendance and punctuality will be monitored for a period of six to twelve weeks following the warning. If insufficient improvement is made, the case will be escalated to the Education Welfare Officer for further action.

Severe Absence

Severe absence is defined as missing 50 percent or more of school sessions (DfE, Working Together to Improve Attendance, 2022). Pupils in this category are at significant risk of educational failure and safeguarding concerns.

The school will prioritise support for severely absent pupils through:

Multi-agency collaboration
Tailored intervention plans
Regular review meetings with families and professionals

Where all reasonable support has been provided and unauthorised severe absence continues, the situation may constitute neglect. In such cases, the school will refer the matter to Family Connect or other appropriate safeguarding agencies.

Sanctions and Penalty Notices

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is committed to promoting excellent attendance and will work in partnership with families to address any concerns. Where attendance does not improve despite support and intervention, the school may consider legal sanctions in line with national and local guidance.

Penalty Notices

Penalty notices may be issued for unauthorised absence under the following conditions:

A penalty notice may be issued by the headteacher (or a delegated member of staff), the local authority, or the police when a pupil of compulsory school age has 10 or more sessions of unauthorised absence within a rolling 10-school-week period, in accordance with the national threshold.
The school will consult with the local authority before issuing a penalty notice and will provide them with a copy of any notice issued.

Before issuing a penalty notice, the school will consider:

Whether the national threshold has been met
Whether a penalty notice is the most appropriate intervention to improve attendance
Whether alternative support or legal action (e.g. a notice to improve, Education Supervision Order, or referral to external services) would be more effective
Whether any obligations under the Equality Act 2010 make issuing a penalty notice inappropriate

Penalty notices may also be issued if a parent allows their child to be present in a public place during school hours without reasonable justification during the first five days of a suspension or exclusion, provided the school has formally notified the parent of this restriction.

Each parent who is responsible for the unauthorised absence may be issued with a separate penalty notice. However, notices will typically be issued only to the parent(s) deemed responsible for the absence.

Payment and Enforcement

Penalty notices are payable directly to the local authority.
The fine is £80 if paid within 21 days, rising to £160 if paid within 28 days.
If unpaid after 28 days, the local authority may initiate prosecution under Section 444 of the Education Act 1996 or withdraw the notice.

A second penalty notice issued to the same parent for the same child must be paid at £160 within 28 days. A third penalty notice cannot be issued to the same parent for the same child within a three-year period from the date of the first notice. If the threshold is met again within that time, alternative legal action will be considered.