Welcome to our attendance guide
At Kingsfield First School, We believe that regular attendance helps children feel safe, settled and ready to learn. Attending school every day gives children the best opportunity to achieve well, build friendships and benefit fully from school life.
This page explains how we work in partnership with families to remove barriers to attendance and ensure every child receives the full benefit of their education. You’ll find information about our attendance processes, how we monitor attendance, what happens when concerns arise, and the support available to families.
We understand that sometimes there are reasons why attending school can be difficult. We will always aim to understand the barriers and work with families to find the right support. Good attendance is an important part of safeguarding and supports children’s wellbeing, learning and development.
Together we create attendance heroes!
Here
Everyday
Ready
On time
Attendance is everyone’s responsibility and working together helps every child thrive.
What do I need to know as a parent?
My child cannot come into school today, what do I need to do?
Please let us know as soon as possible if your child is going to be absent.
Where a pupil is absent without explanation, the school has a duty to make appropriate enquiries to establish their safety and wellbeing.
The reason provided will be considered in line with DfE attendance regulations when determining whether the absence can be authorised. This protects the school by making clear that reporting an absence does not automatically make it authorised.
Contact school
Please let us know as soon as possible, and before the start of the school day where possible, if your child is going to be absent by:
- Phone
- Text
- Arbour
Give the reason
Please let us know as soon as possible, and before the start of the school day where possible, why your child is absent.
For example:
- Illness (including symptoms)
- Medical or dental appointment
- Exceptional family circumstances
Keep us updated
What happens if you don’t hear from me?
If your child is absent, we check whether we have received a reason and can record the absence correctly.
If your child is absent and we have not received a reason for their absence, we will:
Check the register
We notice that your child is absent and we have not received a reason for their absence.
Contact you
We will use the contact details we have on record.
Emergency contacts
If we are unable to reach you, we may contact the emergency contacts you have provided.
Further checks
If we are unable to establish your child's whereabouts, or have concerns about their safety or wellbeing, we may make further enquiries, including contacting other agencies or conducting a welfare visit where appropriate.
Our priority is always the safety and wellbeing of every child
Should I keep my child off school?
| Chickenpox | at least 5 days from the onset of the rash and until all blisters have crusted over. |
| Diarrhoea & vomiting | 48 hours after their last episode. |
| Cold & flu like illness | they no longer have a high temperature and feel well enough to attend. |
| Impetigo | the sores have healed or 48 hours after they started antibiotics. |
| Measles | 4 days after the rash first appears. |
| Mumps | 5 days after the swelling started. |
| Scabies | they’ve had their first treatment. |
| Scarlett fever | 24 hours after they started taking antibiotics. |
| Whooping cough | 24 hours after they started taking antibiotics. |
Based on current UKHSA guidance ( or where the guidance came from). Guidance may change and parents should seek medical advice where appropriate.
But make sure you tell the school about:
| Hand, foot and mouth | Glandular fever |
| Head lice | Tonsillitis |
| Threadworms | Slapped cheek |
Requesting a leave of absence
We believe that regular attendance gives children the best chance to learn, thrive and achieve their full potential. We ask families to arrange holidays and other trips outside of term time wherever possible. Routine medical and dental appointments should also be arranged outside of the school day where this is reasonably possible.
However, if you do need to make a request, this must be made in advance. Based on statutory attendance guidance, requests for leave during term time will be considered individually and in line with statutory attendance guidance. Leave can only be authorised where the Headteacher considers there to be exceptional circumstances. When considering a request, we will take into account the individual circumstances, the reason for the request, the child’s attendance record and the impact on their education.
Schools have a safeguarding duty to make reasonable enquiries where a pupil is absent and their whereabouts cannot be established.
Permission must be obtained before any leave of absence is taken.
What are penalty notices?
A penalty notice referral may be considered where the national threshold for unauthorised absence is met or where unauthorised leave of absence has occurred.
Penalty Notices are considered in accordance with national and local authority codes of conduct. Penalty notices are issued in accordance with the national framework and local authority procedures.
Before a referral is made, schools will consider:
- the level of unauthorised absence
- support already offered
- parental engagement
- safeguarding factors
- SEND and medical considerations
- local authority guidance
Unauthorised leave may be referred to the Local Authority for consideration of a Penalty Notice in accordance with national and local arrangements.
Medical appointments should be arranged outside school hours wherever possible. Evidence may be requested.
Schools will continue to monitor attendance and offer appropriate support during this period.
How we monitor attendance
We regularly review attendance, punctuality and absence patterns to identify children who may need additional support.
Where attendance concerns emerge, schools will provide additional, targeted and specialist support to remove barriers and improve outcomes. These are summarised and exemplified in The Children First Learning Partnership Attendance Graduated Response Framework below.
Our attendance support pathway
We regularly look at attendance and absence patterns to identify if a child may need additional support. Our response is proportionate to individual circumstances and aims to help every child attend regularly, feel supported and make the most of their education.
Where support has been offered and barriers have not been resolved, the school may refer the case to the Local Authority for consideration of legal intervention in accordance with statutory guidance.
Attendance thresholds are used as indicators and professional judgement will be applied to each individual case. Attendance figures will be reviewed alongside attendance patterns, punctuality, absence reasons and individual circumstances.
Useful websites
For more help, guidance or information regarding your child’s specific school, click on the school website link below
The school motto, Learning together, Learning for Life reflects the ambitious and enriched curriculum offer.
A nurturing, safe, vibrant and happy place to learn and grow, symbolised by the rainbow badge.
Working together to achieve our best, the school believes that with nurture, learning never stops growing.
Children learn through practical involvement using creativity. Imagination instils a love of learning.
The school motto, Where Children Come First, encompasses the values of the dedicated members of staff.