Attendance at St Catherine’s Primary School

At St Catherine’s Primary School, we believe that good attendance is essential for every child’s success. Regular attendance supports not only academic achievement but also social development, emotional wellbeing, and preparation for life beyond school.

We are committed to promoting a positive culture of attendance across the school, ensuring that children and families understand its importance. Our approach aligns with statutory guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) and is designed to meet the high standards expected by Ofsted.

How We Manage Attendance at St Catherine’s

1. High Expectations
   We set high expectations for attendance and punctuality, encouraging all children to strive for full attendance wherever possible. We communicate these expectations clearly to children, parents, and staff.

2. Daily Monitoring and Follow-Up
   Attendance is monitored daily through our registers. Any unexplained absence is followed up promptly to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our pupils.

3. Support for Families
   We recognise that some families may face challenges that affect attendance. Our staff work closely with parents and carers to understand and address these barriers. We provide tailored support, including referrals to Early Help services where appropriate.

4. Early Intervention
   Patterns of low attendance are identified early, allowing us to provide timely intervention. We target support for children at risk of persistent absence (missing 10% or more of sessions) to help improve attendance and minimise disruption to their learning.

5. Collaboration with Partners
   St Catherine’s works in partnership with the local authority and other agencies to address persistent attendance issues. In rare cases where concerns cannot be resolved, we escalate to formal processes, including the use of fixed penalty notices in line with legal requirements.

6. Safeguarding and Wellbeing
   Attendance is closely linked to safeguarding at St Catherine’s. We ensure that unexplained absences are investigated promptly, and appropriate actions are taken where concerns arise.

7. Celebrating Success
   We celebrate good attendance through regular recognition and rewards, promoting a positive and inclusive approach that motivates children to attend school every day.

Our Commitment

At St Catherine’s, we are committed to working together with children, parents, and the wider community to ensure that every child can achieve their potential through regular and sustained attendance. If you have any concerns about your child’s attendance, please do not hesitate to contact us for support.

Let’s work together to help every child succeed.

Sickness

All children will inevitably have some time off school due to one illness or another.  When your child is ill or is going to be late please telephone school as soon as possible.

Below is a list of common ailments and the accepted periods of exclusion from school. For any other diseases or medical conditions the Headteacher or your Family doctor will be able to advise.

If your child is taken ill whilst at school or is involved in an accident, we will get in touch with you, or the emergency contact as indicated on your pupil's record.

It is important that contact details for your child are kept up to date, so please inform the school immediately of any changes of telephone numbers or emergency contacts etc.

To report a pupil absence phone the school office on 01772 423767 and leave your child's name, class and reason for absence.