Attendance
Working Together for Every Child’s Success
At Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Primary School, we believe that good attendance is the heartbeat of a successful school experience. Every day your child is in the classroom, they are opening doors to new opportunities, friendships, and discoveries.
We monitor attendance levels very closely. To ensure your child receives the best possible education, we use the following benchmarks:
- 95% and Above: This is considered Good Attendance. It ensures your child is keeping up with their learning and maintaining strong social bonds.
- Below 95%: This is worrying. When attendance dips below this level, children begin to develop significant gaps in their learning and may struggle to feel settled in class.
Attendance is "everyone’s business". We are committed to building strong, trusting relationships with our families to understand any barriers to attendance and to put the right support in place. Together, we can ensure every child feels safe, supported, and ready to learn in our calm and inclusive environment.
Why Attendance Matters
Good attendance is about much more than just academic success; it is vital for your child’s overall wellbeing and future:
- A Foundation for the Future: Children who attend school regularly often achieve better outcomes and go on to live healthier and more enriched lives.
- Building Connections: School is where children learn about relationships, make new friends, and find their place in the community.
- Social and Emotional Wellbeing: Regular attendance helps prevent feelings of social isolation and builds a child’s confidence and self-esteem.
- Every Lesson Counts: Missing even one day can mean missing up to seven lessons. Lessons often build on what was taught previously, so missing a day can make future learning much more difficult.
The Impact of Lateness
Punctuality is just as important as attendance. Being late to school, even by just a few minutes, disrupts the start of your child’s day and interrupts the learning of others. These minutes quickly mount up into hours of lost education over the school year.
What if my child is ill?
It can sometimes be difficult to decide if your child is too unwell for school. We recognise that parents worry about their child's mental health. If your child is feeling anxious or struggling, please talk to us rather than keeping them at home. We can work together to support them in school and provide the necessary reassurance.
To help you decide whether your child should stay at home or come into school, please refer to the official NHS guidance below:
NHS Guidance: Is my child too ill for school?
General Health Reminders:
- Coughs/Colds: If your child has a minor cough or cold but no fever, they should attend school.
- Fever: If your child has a high temperature, they should stay home until the fever subsides.
Stomach Bugs: Children should remain home for 48 hours after the last episode of vomiting or diarrhoea.
How to Report an Absence
If your child is unable to attend, please follow these steps to help us ensure their safety:
- Notify Us Early: Call the school office on 0208 399 9854 before 9:00 am on the first day of absence.
- Provide Details: Please state your child’s name, their class, the specific reason for absence, and when you expect them to return.
- Daily Updates: Please call us on each subsequent day of absence so we can keep our records accurate and ensure your child is safe.
Medical Appointments: We encourage you to book medical or dental appointments outside of school hours wherever possible.
Requesting Leave from School
To maintain high attendance, family holidays during school time will not be authorised by the Headteacher except in very exceptional circumstances.
A written request using the Absence Request Form is required in advance for all absences other than sickness
Celebrating Attendance
We love to celebrate our pupils' commitment to school life! To keep our community informed, we publish weekly updates on our website, showcasing our progress as a school family.
We also believe in rewarding progress and dedication. At the end of each term:
- 100% Attendance: Pupils who have been in school every single day will receive a special congratulatory message.
Improved Attendance: We know that sometimes there are hurdles to overcome. We also celebrate those pupils who have shown significant improvement in their attendance levels over the term.
Please see our Attendance Policy for more information.
