Parents
Attendance

Why Attendance and Punctuality Matter 

Children who attend consistently feel: 

  • more secure

  • more connected to their school community

  • they belong

How parents can help:

  • Establish consistent morning routines 

  • Aim for arrival before the school day starts 

  • Avoid term-time holidays where possible 

  • Communicate early if there are challenges 

Children only get one chance at their education:

  • Excellent attendance and punctuality give them the best opportunity to succeed, build friendships, and develop confidence 

  • Regular attendance and punctuality are essential to support children’s learning, wellbeing and progress in school. 

 

Research and Data

Strong link between attendance and academic achievement 

  • Pupils with attendance below 90% are classed as “persistently absent” and are significantly less likely to achieve good GCSE results (UK Department for Education). 

  • Research shows that even missing 10% of school (about 2 days per month) can lead to a drop of one grade in multiple subjects. 

  • According to the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), attendance is one of the strongest non-cognitive predictors of attainment. 

  • Every day missed is a day of learning lost—and those gaps add up quickly. 

  • Being late is a hidden form of absence.

  • Being 10 minutes late each day = nearly 1 week of lost learning over a year. 

  • Frequent lateness disrupts: 

    • the child’s learning 

    • the teacher’s lesson flow 

    • the learning of other pupils 

Studies show that pupils who arrive late regularly are more likely to: 

  • fall behind academically 

  • feel less confident in class 

Absence impacts social and emotional development; regular absence can lead to:

  • difficulty forming friendships 

  • lower confidence 

  • increased anxiety about returning to school 

 

Missed lessons can create gaps that widen over time, especially in subjects like maths and reading where learning builds step-by-step. 

It’s much harder to catch up than to stay caught up. 

 

What Absence Really Looks Like 

  • 100% attendance: 0 days lost | 0 lessons missed | Excellent progress 

  • 95% attendance: ~10 days lost | 50+ lessons missed | Risk of falling behind 

  • 90% attendance: ~19 days lost | 100+ lessons missed | Significant learning gaps 

  • 85% attendance: ~28 days lost | 150+ lessons missed | Serious impact on outcomes 

Key Messages to Share with Parents: 

  • Every day in school matters. 

  • Good attendance = better achievement. 

  • Being on time sets your child up for success. 

  • We are here to support you—talk to us if attendance is a challenge. 

Key Information:

  • Parents and carers have a legal responsibility to ensure their child attends school every day and arrives on time.

  • Please note that school registers close at 8.45am. Any child arriving after this time will receive a “U” code for an unauthorised late arrival unless the absence has been agreed in advance for an exceptional reason, such as a medical or dental appointment or a visit to another school. This is in line with the Department for Education’s statutory attendance guidance introduced in September 2024.

  • Under current DfE guidance, where a pupil records 10 sessions (equivalent to 5 school days) of unauthorised absence within a rolling 10-school-week period, including codes G, O and U, the Local Authority may issue a Fixed Penalty Notice to parents/carers. We appreciate families working in partnership with school to promote excellent attendance and punctuality for all pupils.