Attendance
Every Day Counts
At Leadgate Primary School, we believe that excellent attendance is essential for children to achieve their full potential. Regular attendance at school supports academic progress, promotes positive wellbeing and helps children build strong relationships with their peers and staff.
We want every child to enjoy school and feel confident, happy and successful in their learning. By working together with parents and carers, we can ensure that children attend school regularly and make the most of every opportunity available to them.
Why is Good Attendance Important?
Children who attend school regularly are more likely to:
- Achieve their full academic potential.
- Develop confidence and independence.
- Build positive friendships and social skills.
- Feel part of the school community.
- Develop good habits that will support them throughout their lives.
- Be better prepared for secondary school and future employment.
Missing school can make it difficult for children to keep up with learning, and even occasional absences can have an impact over time.
Our Attendance Expectations
We encourage all pupils to attend school every day unless they are genuinely unwell or there are exceptional circumstances.
Our aim is for every child to achieve attendance of 96% or above.
Attendance Guide
| Attendance | What It Means |
|---|---|
| 98-100% | Excellent attendance |
| 96-97% | Good attendance |
| 90-95% | Attendance requires improvement |
| Below 90% | Persistent absence |
Children whose attendance falls below 90% are classed as persistently absent, which can significantly affect their educational progress.
How Parents and Carers Can Help
Parents and carers play a vital role in supporting good attendance by:
- Ensuring their child attends school every day and arrives on time.
- Making routine medical and dental appointments outside school hours whenever possible.
- Contacting school promptly on the first day of absence.
- Encouraging positive attitudes towards school and learning.
- Maintaining regular bedtime and morning routines.
When children see school as a priority, they are more likely to develop excellent attendance habits.
Punctuality Matters
Being on time is an important part of good attendance.
Arriving late can mean that children:
- Miss important learning opportunities.
- Feel unsettled at the start of the day.
- Miss key information and instructions.
We encourage all pupils to arrive promptly so that they are ready to learn from the start of the school day.
If Your Child Is Unwell
If your child is unable to attend school due to illness, please contact the school office as soon as possible on the first day of absence.
Where appropriate, we may work with families to provide support and ensure children return to school as quickly as possible.
Working Together
At Leadgate Primary School, we are committed to creating a positive culture where attendance is everyone’s responsibility. We recognise that there may be times when families need additional support and we will always work in partnership with parents and carers to overcome barriers to attendance.
Our Attendance Team monitors attendance closely and celebrates improvements and successes throughout the year.
Celebrating Good Attendance
We believe that excellent attendance should be recognised and celebrated. Throughout the year, we acknowledge pupils and classes who demonstrate positive attendance and commitment to learning.
By attending school every day, children give themselves the very best chance to achieve, grow in confidence and make lasting memories with their friends.
Our Message
“Be Here, Be Ready, Be Successful.”
Every lesson counts, every day counts, and every child matters. At Leadgate Primary School, we are committed to helping every pupil attend, achieve and thrive.