Attendance at St. Thomas More Catholic Primary School

Regular school attendance plays a vital role in helping children reach their full potential and secure the best possible future. There is a strong link between attendance and academic success, and encouraging good attendance is a shared responsibility between pupils, parents, and the wider school community.

Why Attendance Is So Important

Consistent attendance enables children to:

• Achieve their best academically

• Develop positive attitudes to learning and establish good routines of punctuality and attendance

• Feel a sense of belonging within the school community and develop respect for school life

At St. Thomas More Catholic Primary School, we recognise that high levels of attendance are best achieved through a strong partnership between home and school.

Questions for Parents to Reflect On

• Are you aware of your child’s current attendance and punctuality levels?

• Do you understand how their attendance impacts their learning and progress?

• Do you regularly talk to your child about the importance of coming to school every day?

• Do you inform the school promptly if your child is absent?

Parents’ Legal Responsibilities

Parents and carers have a legal duty to ensure their child attends school regularly. All children aged 5–17 are required to receive full-time education, and it is the responsibility of parents to make sure their child attends school each day and is ready to learn.

• School begins at 8:45 am, with registration taking place at 8:50 am.

• If your child is going to be late or absent (for example, due to illness or a medical appointment), please inform the school as soon as possible.

• The school office should be contacted on 01865 373674 before 9:00 am, when the registers close.

• Where absences are due to illness, parents may be asked to provide medical evidence.

Understanding Attendance Percentages

Attendance below 90% is considered poor and is classed as persistent absence.

• 90% attendance means a child misses half a day of school each week.

• Over a full academic year, this equates to approximately four weeks of lost learning.

The Importance of Being on Time

Punctuality is just as important as daily attendance. Even small amounts of lost time can have a significant impact on learning.

• Being 5 minutes late each day results in the loss of 3 school days per year.

• Being 15 minutes late each day is equivalent to missing 2 weeks of school annually.

• Being 30 minutes late each day adds up to 19 days of missed learning over a year.

 

Improving Punctuality

Establish Consistent Bedtime Routines:
Set a clear time for devices to be switched off, prepare school bags the night before, and ensure your child goes to bed early enough to get a good night’s sleep.

Create Positive Morning Routines:
Wake your child earlier if needed, avoid television until they are fully ready for school, and encourage them to eat breakfast before leaving home.

Prepare the Night Before:
Lay out school uniform and organise packed lunches the evening before to reduce stress and avoid delays in the morning.

Stay Organised:
Support your child in managing their daily schedule and check they have everything they need for the school day ahead.

Attendance and punctuality at St. Thomas More School are closely monitored. Pupils whose attendance falls below expected levels will be identified and offered additional support to help improve attendance and prevent missed learning opportunities.

Attendance of 97% or above is considered good. Parents are strongly encouraged to arrange medical and other appointments outside of school hours wherever possible.

Holidays during term time are not permitted and will not be authorised.

By working together, we can ensure that every child benefits from a high-quality education and makes the most of all learning opportunities.

Changes to the registration regulations, introduced in September 2013, state that headteachers are unable to authorise leave of absence during term time except in exceptional circumstances.

We ask all parents and carers to carefully consider any requests for leave and to work in partnership with the school to promote excellent attendance and provide children with uninterrupted access to learning.

Please be aware that any holiday taken during term time will be recorded as an unauthorised absence on your child’s attendance record.