• Every Day Matters

  At St Andrew's C of E Primary School, we believe that excellent attendance is fundamental to children's academic success, wellbeing and sense of belonging. Children who attend school regularly have the best opportunity to achieve their full potential academically, socially and emotionally.

  We encourage all children to be:

  Calm

  Developing secure routines and positive habits.

  Kind

  Building strong friendships and relationships.

  Ready to Learn

  Making the most of every lesson and learning opportunity.

Our Attendance Journey

Attendance 2025-26

95.6%

Attendance Target 2026-27

96%+

Our Goal

Every day matters and every child attends as often as possible.

Can we achieve 96% together?

By working in partnership with our families, we believe we can continue improving attendance and ensure every child has the very best opportunity to thrive.

Why Attendance Matters

Every lesson counts.

When children miss school, they do not simply miss a day of learning. They miss:

• New knowledge and skills
• Important classroom discussions
• Practical learning opportunities
• Time with friends
• Special events and experiences
• Routines that support wellbeing

Even small amounts of absence can quickly add up over time.

Attendance and Missed Learning

We aim for all pupils to achieve attendance of 96% or above.

Where attendance falls below expected levels, we work closely with families to identify barriers and provide support.

Our priority is always to work in partnership with parents and carers to improve attendance.

Reporting an Absence

If your child is unable to attend school, please contact the school office by 8:55am each day of absence.

Please provide:

• Child's name
• Reason for absence
• Expected return date

Contact Details

Telephone: 01752 201660

Prompt communication helps us ensure all children are safe and enables us to offer support where needed.

Arriving on Time

Good attendance also means being punctual.

Event	Time
School Opens	8:35am
Registration Begins	8:45am
Late Mark Given	8:55am
Register Closes	9:10am

Children arriving after 9:10am may receive an unauthorised absence mark for the morning session.

Being on time helps children feel calm, settled and ready to learn.

Is My Child Too Ill for School?

We understand that children sometimes become unwell.

Before keeping your child at home, we encourage parents and carers to refer to the NHS guidance:

Is My Child Too Ill for School?

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

This guidance provides up-to-date information about common illnesses and when children should remain at home.

Medical and Dental Appointments

Wherever possible, appointments should be arranged outside school hours.

If this is unavoidable:

• Inform the school office in advance.
• Provide appointment evidence where possible.
• Ensure your child attends school before or after the appointment if they are well enough to do so.

Holidays During Term Time

The Government expects children to attend school during term time.

Leave of absence during term time will only be authorised in exceptional circumstances.

Unauthorised absences, including holidays taken during term time, may result in a Penalty Notice in accordance with national guidance and Plymouth City Council procedures. The Plymouth City Council attendance page provides current guidance on attendance expectations and penalty notices.plymouth

Useful Documents

• Attendance Policy
• Absence Request Form
• Plymouth Penalty Notice Guidance

Attendance Support

We understand that attendance difficulties can arise for many reasons.

These may include:

• Illness
• Anxiety or emotional wellbeing needs
• Family circumstances
• Changes to routines
• Medical concerns

If you are experiencing difficulties, please contact us early so that we can provide support.

We are committed to working with families to remove barriers to attendance wherever possible.