Regular school attendance is essential to give your child the best opportunities in life.
Good attendance means a child is less likely to fall behind with their work and more likely to do well in their learning.
Research suggests that students who attend school regularly could be less likely to be involved in antisocial behaviour or crime.
Attendance percentage corresponds to the amount of school time missed
| Attendance during one school year | Equivalent Days | Equivalent Sessions | Equivalent Weeks | Equivalent lessons missed |
| 95% | 9 Days | 18 Sessions | 2 weeks | 36 Lessons |
| 90% | 19 Days | 38 Sessions | 4 Weeks | 76 Lessons |
| 85% | 29 Days | 58 Sessions | 6 Weeks | 116 Lessons |
| 80% | 38 Days | 72 Sessions | 8 Weeks | 152 Lessons |
| 75% | 48 Days | 96 Sessions | 10 Weeks | 192 Lessons |
| 70% | 57 Days | 114 Sessions | 11.5 Weeks | 228 Lessons |
| 65% | 67 Days | 134 Sessions | 13.5 Weeks | 268 Lessons |
How can Parents and Carers help to ensure good attendance at school: –
- Send your child to school every day
- Ensure your child arrives punctually
- Ensure your child knows how important education is
- Encourage your child and show an interest
- Attend school open evenings and school events
- Avoid taking family holidays during term time
- Make sure your child gets a good night’s rest
What should you do if your child refuses to attend school?
- Make contact with the school – we may be able to help
- Do not cover for your child
- Help the school to help put things right
- Make sure that your child understands that you do not approve of them being absent
It is the parent’s and carer’s responsibility to let the school know the reason for their child’s absence as soon as possible, on the first and every day of the absence.
Parents and Carers can only explain absences; they cannot authorise them.
The school decides whether explanations about absences are acceptable and if they can be authorised.
If your child has too many authorised or unauthorised absences, then the school will be in contact with you to find out what can be done to help get your child back into school regularly.