Attendance and Punctuality

At Stechford Primary School, we believe that excellent attendance and punctuality are essential if every child is to achieve their full potential. Every school day matters, and regular attendance gives children the best possible opportunity to learn, develop positive relationships and benefit fully from everything our school has to offer.

The School Day

All pupils should attend school every day and arrive punctually.

• School doors open at 8.40am
• The school day begins at 8.55am
• Pupils should therefore be in school and ready to learn by 8.55am at the latest
• Attendance registers are taken at the beginning of the school day.
• Breakfast Club opens at 7.45am and closes at 8.30am for registered pupils. 

Attendance Information

At Stechford Primary School, regular attendance is central to our commitment to ensuring that every child receives the best possible education.

Parents and carers have a legal responsibility to ensure that their child receives a suitable full-time education. As a school, our governors and staff work in partnership with families and relevant services to promote excellent attendance, address barriers and provide support where attendance becomes a concern.

Pupils should attend school on time, every day that the school is open, unless there is a genuine and unavoidable reason for absence.

We understand that there will be occasions when children are too unwell to attend. However, we encourage parents and carers to consider carefully whether an illness requires their child to remain at home. School information to families highlights that children with mild illnesses, such as a cough or cold without a temperature, may often still be well enough to attend school.

If your child is reluctant to attend school, please speak to us at the earliest opportunity. We will work with you and your child to understand the reasons for this and identify appropriate support. Keeping a child at home because they are reluctant to attend can make returning to school more difficult.

Our Attendance Aims

At Stechford Primary School, we aim to:

• maximise the attendance of all pupils so that they can fully access our curriculum and make the best possible progress;
• create a positive school environment in which excellent attendance and punctuality are valued and encouraged;
• ensure pupils understand why regular attendance is important;
• identify emerging attendance concerns as early as possible;
• monitor and support pupils whose attendance or punctuality causes concern;
• work closely and positively with parents and carers to identify and overcome barriers to attendance;
• recognise and celebrate excellent and improving attendance;
• work effectively with the Local Authority and other agencies where additional support is required;
• recognise the individual needs of pupils when planning a successful return to school following a significant period of absence; and
• ensure that safeguarding remains at the heart of our response to unexplained or prolonged absence.

Why is school attendance so important?

Regular school attendance is not simply a legal requirement. It is fundamental to children's education, wellbeing and future opportunities.

Academic achievement

Children who attend school regularly have the best opportunity to access the full curriculum, build on previous learning and make good progress. Missing school means missing teaching and learning that can be difficult to replace.

Preventing gaps in learning

Learning is carefully sequenced, with new knowledge and skills building on what children have already been taught. Frequent or prolonged absence can therefore lead to gaps in knowledge and make subsequent learning more difficult.

Relationships and social development

School provides children with opportunities to develop friendships, communicate with others, work as part of a team and develop important social skills.

Positive routines

Regular attendance and punctuality establish positive habits and routines. Arriving at school on time enables children to settle into the classroom and begin learning alongside their peers.

Support from teachers

Being in school regularly allows teachers to assess children's learning, identify where additional help may be required and provide appropriate support.

Wider opportunities

Regular attendance means children can participate fully in school life, including enrichment activities, trips, sporting opportunities, clubs, assemblies and other experiences.

Helping your child achieve good attendance

Parents and carers can support good attendance by:

• ensuring their child understands the importance of attending school every day and arriving punctually;
• establishing positive morning and bedtime routines;
• taking an active interest in their child's education;
• talking to their child about their learning and school experiences;
• encouraging participation in school activities;
• speaking to the class teacher or a senior leader if their child is experiencing difficulties;
• avoiding keeping children at home for minor ailments when they are otherwise well enough to attend;
• arranging routine medical and dental appointments outside school hours wherever possible; and
• avoiding holidays and other unnecessary leave during term time.

Reporting an Absence

If your child is unable to attend school because of illness, parents/carers should telephone the school office by 9.00am on each day of absence. Stechford's current Reception Handbook also makes clear that absences should not be reported through ClassDojo.

It is the responsibility of parents and carers to tell the school why their child is absent.

Where we have not received an explanation for an absence, the school will make contact with the family to establish the reason and confirm that the child is safe.

Authorised and Unauthorised Absence

Every absence must be recorded by the school using the appropriate attendance code. It is the school, not parents or carers, that determines how an absence is recorded.

There are circumstances in which an absence may be authorised, including certain illnesses, medical circumstances and religious observance.

Other absences may be recorded as unauthorised.

Parents and carers should therefore always provide the school with an accurate reason for an absence and any information requested to support this.

Holidays and Leave During Term Time

Parents and carers should arrange family holidays and visits during school holidays and not during term time.

Leave during term time will not normally be authorised. Requests for leave should only be made where there are exceptional circumstances and should be submitted to school in writing as early as possible.

The Headteacher will consider each request individually and determine whether the circumstances are exceptional and whether any period of leave can be authorised.

Parents and carers should not assume that a request for leave will be granted.

Where unauthorised leave is taken, or where parents fail to ensure regular attendance, the school will follow the appropriate Local Authority attendance procedures. This may include consideration of statutory action.

Unexpected or Unexplained Absence

We take unexplained absence seriously because attendance is also an important part of safeguarding children.

If a pupil is unexpectedly absent and we have not received an explanation from their parent or carer, the school will attempt to make contact to establish the reason for the absence.

Where we are unable to establish a child's whereabouts, where a child does not return to school when expected, or where an absence raises safeguarding concerns, the school will take appropriate action. This may include contacting other professionals or agencies and, where appropriate, undertaking a home visit.

Where there are concerns that a pupil may be missing from education, the school will follow the relevant safeguarding and Local Authority procedures.

Support First Approach

At Stechford Primary School, our priority is to work with families to improve attendance and overcome barriers.

Where a child's attendance begins to cause concern, we will seek to understand the reasons and identify what support may be needed. This could include meetings with parents/carers, attendance monitoring, agreed actions and support from appropriate professionals or agencies.

Where concerns persist despite support and intervention, the school may need to follow formal Local Authority attendance procedures.

Our aim is always to work constructively with families wherever possible while ensuring that children receive their entitlement to a full-time education.

Support with School Attendance

There are many reasons why a child's attendance may begin to decline. Difficulties could relate to health and wellbeing, worries about school, family circumstances, housing, transport or other challenges.

Please speak to us early if your family is experiencing difficulties affecting your child's attendance.

Working together at an early stage gives us the best opportunity to understand the barriers and identify appropriate support.

Parents and carers can speak to their child's class teacher, a member of the Senior Leadership Team, our pastoral team or the school office.

Contacting Stechford Primary School

For attendance advice, support or to report an absence, please contact:

Stechford Primary School
Albert Road
Stechford
Birmingham
B33 8SJ

Telephone: 0121 464 3245
Email: enquiry@stechford.bham.sch.uk 

Working Together to Improve Attendance

At Stechford Primary School, we want every child to feel safe, happy, included and successful.

Good attendance is everyone's responsibility. By working closely with pupils, parents, carers and appropriate professionals, we can reduce barriers to attendance and ensure children have the greatest possible opportunity to learn and achieve.

Every day in school is an opportunity to learn, achieve and belong.