At Tadley Community Primary School, we believe that attendance is everyone’s business and have based our policy and procedures on the ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ document from the Department for Education published in August 2024.

We understand that the barriers to accessing education are wide and complex and are often individual to your child. We know that some children find it harder to attend school and we want to work together with parents/carers to help remove barriers and build strong and trusting relationships.

The Law

The law entitles every child of compulsory school age to an efficient, full-time education suitable to their age, aptitude and any special education need they may have. It is the legal responsibility of every parent to make sure their child receives that education either by attendance at a school or by education otherwise than at a school.

Where parents/carers decide to have their child registered at school, they have an additional legal duty to ensure their child attends that school regularly. This means their child must attend every day that the school is open, except in a small number of allowable circumstances such as being too ill to attend or being given permission for an absence in advance from the school.

Regular attendance is important because poor attendance to school affects a child’s outcomes. The children with the highest attainment at the end of Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 4 have higher rates of attendance over the key stage compared to those with the lowest attainment.

How to prevent your child from missing school

• Make sure they understand the importance of good attendance and punctuality.
• Take an interest in their education – ask about schoolwork and encourage them to get involved in school activities.
• Discuss any problems they may have at school and letting their teacher know about anything serious.
• Don’t let them take time off school for minor ailments – particularly those which would not prevent you from going to work.

To avoid disrupting your child’s education, you should arrange appointments and outings:

• After school hours.
• At weekends.
• During school holidays.

You should not expect Tadley Community Primary School to agree to your child going on holiday during term time.

My child is unwell, can they come to school?

It can be confusing to know when to send your child to school if they are feeling unwell. At Tadley Primary School, if your child has experienced vomiting or diarrhea, they must remain at home for 48 hours after their last episode. For guidance on other common illnesses, such as coughs, colds, and fevers, please visit the NHS website here.

Attendance Guidance for Parents/Carers

Parental attitude plays a key role in shaping a child’s approach to school attendance. Parents and carers can significantly influence and encourage even reluctant pupils to attend regularly. For more detailed information and tips on how to support your child's attendance, visit the Hampshire County Council's attendance guidance.

Absent Request Forms For Planned Absences

If your child has a planned absence, parents must complete an absence request form in advance. These forms can be collected from the school office. Please ensure the form is submitted as early as possible to allow time for the request to be reviewed.