Why good attendance is so important 

Good attendance is incredibly important in school. If your child has under 80% attendance, they’re missing out on a broad and balanced education. Even at 90-95% attendance, your child will need to spend some time catching up on work.  

A good attendance, from 96-100%, gives your child the best opportunity for success. It doesn’t just ensure that they have access to all of the lessons and resources, but it also teaches children good habits they need for the future. Later down the line, when they reach secondary school, children with poor attendance may struggle to achieve the qualifications they need to continue their learning or go into employment. Going to school also gives children the opportunity to socialise and form important friendships, which they may find more challenging if they don’t attend school regularly.  

It’s not just important to have good attendance, but good punctuality too. Did you know that if you’re just 5 minutes late every day, that’s the same as missing out on 3 days of learning? Arriving late not only means your child will miss out on the important introduction to the day, but it also disrupts the routine for the rest of the class. 

Sometimes, it can be hard to achieve 100% attendance. However, there are a few things you can do to ensure that your children get the best opportunity possible. 

Communicate with the class teacher 

If there are any problems which mean that your child will not be able to attend school, especially if they are long-term, then it’s important to keep your child’s class teacher up to date. Working together as a school means that your child can access what they need, even if they can’t attend. Make sure to inform the office if your child needs to take any time off with illness, whether that’s only a day or for a longer amount of time. 

Use your judgement 

If your child is feeling a bit under the weather, they may still be well enough to go to school. If they have a cold or a tickly cough, they most likely will be fine to attend – and rest assured, they can be sent home if they start feeling any worse throughout the day. Try to avoid telling children they’ll be sent home if they are ill however, as they may look to leave when they are actually well enough to continue their learning. If you aren’t sure how long your child should stay home for, make sure to read the NHS’ guidelines. 

Ask questions 

If you feel like your child seems to be ill often, but there isn’t a medical issue, there might be another issue that might be making your child not want to attend school. Talk to your child to find out if there is anything bothering them, such as falling out with their friends or struggling with work. It’s also important to attend any parent’s evenings to talk to their class teacher to discuss these issues or to have an update on what’s going on in the classroom.