Why school attendance matters
Missing a few days of school here and there may not seem huge, but research shows that it has a significant impact on children’s learning. Children who miss a substantial amount of school can fall behind their peers, and struggle to catch up.
- Every child has a right to education and to have the best possible life chances. By attending school daily and on time they learn the importance of commitment and being punctual, a life skill that will serve them well as they grow into the next generation of working citizens.
- It is hard to catch up enough on the work that is missed due to absence, therefore it will be hard for children to achieve their best results if there are gaps in their learning.
- Not being at school regularly also has a negative effect on the social aspects of school. It is hard for children to build and maintain good friendships if they are not in school regularly.
Therefore, at Almeley Primary School and Little Elms Nursery, we value highly that the importance of academic success is attributed to good attendance.
Illness:
We fully understand that there are times when children feel unwell and are not able to attend school. Sometimes it can be tricky deciding whether or not to keep your child off school when they're unwell. The following link can help parents and carers make these decisions: NHS- Is my child too ill to attend school?
There are also government guidelines for schools and nurseries about managing specific infectious. These say when children should be kept off school and when they shouldn't. If your child is well enough to go to school but has an infection that could be passed on, such as a cold sore or head lice, please let their teacher know.
Health protection in children and young people settings, including education - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Some examples are below:
Coughs and colds - It's fine to send your child to school with a minor cough or common cold. But if they have a fever, keep them off school until the fever goes. Encourage your child to throw away any used tissues and to wash their hands regularly.
Chickenpox - If your child has chickenpox, keep them off school until all the spots have crusted over. This is usually about 5 days after the spots first appeared.
Hand, foot and mouth disease - If your child has hand, foot and mouth disease but seems well enough to go to school, there's no need to keep them off.
If your child is unwell, you must call the school office by 9.00am to notify us of their absence. You must call to report each day of their absence.
You are encouraged to make children’s medical appointments outside of school hours, if possible.
According to the law, parents do not have an automatic right to take their child out of school during term time as it is considered that any absence from school will disrupt your child’s learning. Any leave that is taken without the Headteacher’s permission may result in the Local Education Authority issuing a penalty notice or initiating legal proceedings against you under the Education Act 1996 (Section 444). If you wish to apply for a leave of absence this must be made six weeks in advance, each application must be in writing and addressed to the Headteacher.