Attendance at Sandfield Close Primary School

At Sandfield Close Primary School, we are committed to ensuring that every child receives a high-quality education and has the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Regular school attendance is not only a legal requirement, but it is also crucial to a child’s academic success and social development.

Regular attendance and good punctuality are essential for your child’s success. There is a clear link between poor attendance and lower academic achievement. When children are not in class, they are NOT LEARNING!

Research from the Department of Education has shown that attendance is one of the most significant factors influencing how well children achieve in school.

We understand that some children may face medical or health challenges that can affect their attendance. If this is the case, we encourage you to contact our admin team or speak directly with Mrs. Tailor to discuss the impact of these issues on your child’s education. By working together, we can improve your child’s experience at school and help them maintain good attendance.

Absence from School

By law, children are required to attend school for 190 days each year. At Sandfield Close, our aim is for all children to achieve 100% attendance. We assess attendance as follows:

• 100% – Outstanding
• 98.01% – 99.99% – Excellent (with no unauthorised absence)
• 96.01% – 98% – Good (with no unauthorised absence)
• 90.01% – 96% – Requires Improvement
• 90% & Under – Persistent Absentee
   

Even small amounts of absence can significantly impact your child’s learning. For example:

Attendance	Days Absent	Weeks Absent	Lessons Missed
95%	9 Days	2 Weeks	40 lessons
90%	19 Days	4 Weeks	80 lessons
85%	29 Days	6 Weeks	120 lessons
80%	38 Days	8 Weeks	160 lessons
75%	48 Days	10 Weeks	200 lessons
70%	57 Days	11.5 Weeks	230 lessons

If Your Child Is Sick

If your child is absent due to illness, please notify the school office by 8.30 am on 0116 266 0333. You should report their absence on the first day of illness and each subsequent day until they return. Upon their return, please ensure that a written note explaining the absence is handed in to the staff at Reception.

Please note: High levels of illness-related absence will only be authorised if medical evidence is provided (e.g., a doctor’s note).

Medical Appointments

We encourage you to avoid making medical appointments during the school day, if possible. However, if an appointment cannot be avoided, please ensure that your child attends school before and after the appointment.

Please note: For all medical appointments, medical evidence (e.g., appointment cards or letters) will be required.

Family Holidays in Term Time

In accordance with government regulations, holidays taken during term time cannot be authorised. Parents are strongly encouraged to plan holidays during school holidays.

Please note: If a holiday is taken during term time without authorisation, a Penalty Notice of £120 per parent per child may be issued (reduced to £60 if paid within 21 days). In some cases, the matter may be referred to the Magistrates' Court.

Persistent Absence (PA) Pupils

A Persistent Absence (PA) pupil is one who misses 10% or more of their education. If your child’s attendance drops to 90% or below, they will be classified as a PA pupil. This will trigger involvement from the Education Welfare Service and may lead to further action.

To avoid this, it is vital that your child’s attendance remains as close to 100% as possible. We aim for all children to maintain at least 96% attendance.

Supporting Good Attendance

At Sandfield Close Primary School, we take attendance seriously and work hard to monitor and support each child’s attendance. As a parent/carer, it is your responsibility to help ensure your child’s attendance remains as high as possible.

If you have concerns about your child’s attendance or punctuality, please contact your child’s class teacher in the first instance. We are here to support you and your child to ensure they have a positive and successful school experience.