Attendance Information for Parents

At Blackpool Church of England Primary School, we believe that excellent attendance is essential for every child’s learning, wellbeing and future success. We work closely with parents, carers, and pupils to promote a strong culture of attendance and to ensure every child can thrive.

This page provides practical information for parents about routines, expectations, reporting absence and how we work together to support good attendance.

Why Attendance Matters

Regular attendance helps children:

• make good academic progress
• maintain friendships
• develop routines and confidence
• feel secure and connected to school
• access the full curriculum and wider opportunities

Children who attend less than 90% of sessions are classed as Persistently Absent, and those below 50% are classed as Severely Absent. Early support is essential to prevent patterns of poor attendance developing.

Parent Responsibilities

We ask all parents and carers to:

• Ensure children attend school regularly and punctually
• Promote the value of good attendance at home
• Make medical/dental appointments outside of the school day whenever possible
• Ensure children arrive on time every day
• Provide more than one emergency contact
• Contact the school before 9.00am on each day of absence
• Provide medical evidence if requested
• Work with us to remove any barriers to attendance
• Attend meetings when concerns are identified and participate in Early Help if required
• Support attendance contracts or plans where appropriate

A consistent routine at home (bedtime, meals, organisation for the school day) can make a significant difference to a child’s attendance and wellbeing.

The School Day

• Gates open: 8:35am
• School day begins: 8:50am (children must be in class)
• Morning register: 8:50am
• Pupils arriving after 8:50am receive a late mark
• The register closes at 9:00am. Arrivals after this time are marked as unauthorised absence (U code)
• Afternoon registration: 13:15pm

If a child arrives late, they must sign in at the school office.
If leaving during the day, they must be signed out by an adult with parental responsibility.

How to Report an Absence

Parents must inform us before 9.00am on each day of absence. Please tell us:

• your child’s name and class
• the reason for absence
• expected date of return

If we do not hear from you, we will contact all available emergency contacts. Where no contact is made, the school may request a police welfare check (by day 3 of an unexplained absence) to ensure your child is safe.

Authorised and Unauthorised Absence

Medical or Dental Appointments

• Make appointments outside school hours wherever possible
• Provide appointment evidence in advance
• Children should attend school before and after appointments unless medically advised otherwise

Illness

We follow NHS guidance: “Is My Child Too Ill for School?”
Longer absences (5 days or more) or repeated patterns of absence may require medical evidence before being authorised.

Acceptable forms include:

• Text/email confirming appointment
• Appointment card with surgery stamp
• Medication prescribed by a GP
• Letters from consultants
• NHS 111 evidence

Religious Observance

Absence for religious festivals will be authorised when a day is set aside by the family’s religious body.

Traveller Families

Traveller pupils may be authorised to travel for work purposes in line with statutory guidance. Families must remain in regular contact and ensure a minimum of 200 sessions (100 days) of education per year.

Pupils with Medical Needs or SEND

We work closely with families to make reasonable adjustments, provide support and remove barriers to attendance. This may include referrals to external agencies or developing phased return plans.

Requesting Leave During Term Time

Headteachers may not authorise leave during term time unless circumstances are exceptional.

Exceptional circumstances must be: rare, significant, unavoidable and short.

Holidays are not considered exceptional.

Examples that may be considered:

• Important religious festivals
• Rites of passage (e.g., Bar Mitzvah, Holy Communion)
• Serious illness or death of an immediate family member
• Cultural celebrations such as Chinese New Year or Diwali
• Visa issues requiring overseas travel
• Specialist medical treatment that cannot occur in the UK

Each request is assessed individually. Retrospective requests cannot be authorised.

How We Monitor Attendance

We review attendance regularly and will:

• Contact parents regarding absence
• Hold Return to School Interviews
• Create personalised attendance plans
• Request medical evidence when needed
• Offer Early Help support
• Work alongside the Designated Safeguarding Lead for any emerging concerns

Persistent absence can be a safeguarding risk, and patterns of absence may lead to referrals to external agencies where necessary.

Penalty Notices (from August 2024)

Schools must consider a penalty notice when a child reaches:

10 sessions (5 days) of unauthorised absence within 10 school weeks.

Fine structure:

• First penalty notice:
  £80 if paid within 21 days / £160 within 28 days
• Second penalty notice (same parent, same child):
  £160 within 28 days
• A third penalty notice cannot be issued within 3 years — further action (including prosecution) may be taken

Penalty notices may also be issued if a child is seen in a public place during school hours during the first 5 days of a suspension without good reason.

Working Together

Our shared aim is to ensure every child can access their full education. If you have concerns about your child’s attendance, worries, anxiety, or barriers to coming to school, please contact us.
We are here to help and will work with you to find the right support.