You can support your child to have excellent attendance by taking these steps:

• Ensure your child arrives on time for school every day and is ready to learn. Arriving after registration is recorded as an unauthorised absence. Pupils must be in school by 9.20am.
• Avoid taking holidays during term time.
• If your child appears to be only slightly ill, send them in to school. We have staff who will contact you if their condition deteriorates.
• Book any medical appointments outside of school hours. If this is unavoidable, please book for as late in the afternoon as possible and inform the school of appointments in advance.
• Supply a copy of the appointment card or hospital letter if your child has an appointment during school hours.

If your child becomes reluctant to go to school or you need help, please contact the school immediately; we are more likely to be able to work together to solve any problems if we act early.

Our Strategy in partnership with CDAT revolves around the following principles:

Nurturing Environments

Each of our schools will have a nurturing environment where every child feels valued and supported. Through solid relationships and close partnerships with families, we aim to address any barriers to attendance promptly and effectively.

Promoting Engagement

We understand that engaging lessons and a stimulating learning environment are key factors in encouraging regular attendance. A school curriculum will be designed to inspire curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, making school a place where children want to be.

Collaborative Approach

We believe in working collaboratively with parents, carers, and relevant agencies to promote attendance. By fostering open communication and providing support where needed, we aim to ensure that every child attends school regularly and punctually.

Celebrating Achievement

We celebrate and recognise good attendance, reinforcing the message that attending school is both important and enjoyable. This may include certificates, praise, and special events but doesn’t lose focus and therefore creates a culture where attendance is everyone’s business.

Early Intervention

Schools will be proactive in identifying and addressing attendance issues at an early stage. Through robust monitoring and intervention procedures, we strive to support families in overcoming any challenges they may face in ensuring their child's regular attendance.

Pastoral Care

Schools will provide excellent pastoral support to children and families experiencing difficulties that may impact attendance. Staff will offer guidance, encouragement, and practical assistance to help overcome obstacles and enable children to attend school regularly.

In order for children to reap the full benefits of what our school has to offer them, high levels of attendance and punctuality are essential and important for children to ensure continuity of learning, establish a good work ethic and promote a sense of responsibility and a serious commitment to school.

The Legal Framework: The Law relating to attendance;

Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 states that, "The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him / her to receive efficient full time education suitable:-  (a) to age, ability and aptitude and (b) to any special educational needs he/ she may have, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise’.

The Law Relating to Safeguarding;

Section 175 of the Education Act 2002  places a duty on local authorities and    governing bodies to have regard to guidance issued by the Secretary of State with regard to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and students under the age of 18.

Holidays in term time

Head teachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. We define ‘exceptional circumstances’ as an event or problem you did not expect.

 Persons responsible for writing the policy, Headteacher Miss Simcock, Mrs Hazeldine and Mrs Watson

Governors with responsibility for attendance:  Mr Brian Jamson 

Attendance administration: Mrs Sarah Kedward

Attendance & Welfare: Mrs Claire Watson and Mrs Rachel Hazeldine

SAFEGUARDING 

· Ensure the safeguarding, child protection and welfare of all pupils.

· Improve pupils’ achievement by ensuring high levels of attendance and punctuality.

· Achieve an attendance for all children that is above   National Average, apart from those with chronic health issues. 

· Create an ethos in which good attendance and punctuality are recognised as the norm and seen to be valued by the school.

· Raise awareness of parents, carers and pupils of the importance of uninterrupted attendance and punctuality at every stage of a child’s education.

· Ensure that our policy applies to Reception aged children in order to promote good habits at an early age.

· Work in partnership with pupils, parents and staff so that all pupils realise their potential, unhindered by unnecessary absence.

· Promote a positive and welcoming atmosphere in which pupils feel safe, secure, and valued, and encourage in pupils a sense of their own responsibility.

· Establish a pattern of monitoring attendance and ensure consistency in recognising achievement and dealing with difficulties.

· Recognise the key role of all staff, but especially class teachers, in promoting good attendance.

· Provide effective strategies for early intervention to ensure pupils are not deprived of their educational opportunities through non-attendance or lateness.

PARENTS' OBLIGATION

· Ensure your child attends school regularly.

 · Report your child’s absence before 8.30am; in person, by telephone or by email   stmatthews_primary@sch.warrington.gov.uk

 · Ensure your child is not late for school. Doors are opened at 8:40 am and are closed at 8.50 am.

 · Do not take holidays during term time. These will not be authorised.

 · Do not take your child out of school for non-urgent matters.

 · Ensure that medical appointments cause the minimum of disruption and are scheduled out-side school hours where possible.

 · Do not allow your child to be absent for a whole morning/afternoon when their medical appointment is only a short, local one.

SCHOOL'S OBLIGATION

• We will mark the registers daily between 8.40am and 8.50am then at 1pm.

· Information from the registers will be entered into the school’s information management system so we can check attendance.

· We will close attendance registers at 9:20am.

· The Office staff will telephone parents/ carers to ascertain reasons for non-attendance. This could be followed by a parent mail message asking for contact to be made. We will continue to try to contact via telephone until 10.30 am. If we still have no reasoning for absence a home visit will be carried out in accordance with our first day response procedure.

· We will report attendance figures to parents on a half termly basis via letter. The report will include any monitoring period and action by governors.

· Overall attendance figures will be shared with the children in assembly, on the school website and at Full Governing Body meetings.

· We will track attendance figures as well as persistent lateness. We will host attendance panel meetings in order to provide support or Early Help to families.

· We will award pupils with a certificate for 100% attendance in a term.

· All staff will follow our Attendance Policy and procedures, actively encouraging school attendance.

· To adhere to the Children’s services school enforcement policy and DFE School attendance statutory guidance and departmental advice.

One of the main aims in the school’s mission statement is to educate for life and for true citizenship.  Consistent adherence to the content of this policy will ensure that our children become responsible, reliable individuals well equipped for the world of work that awaits them beyond school.