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Attendance

Good attendance is essential for pupils to achieve their full potential, develop positive routines, and feel fully part of school life. We work in partnership with parents and carers to promote excellent attendance and punctuality for all pupils.

Our Attendance Expectations

We expect all pupils to attend school every day unless they are genuinely unwell or there is another unavoidable reason.

The school gates open at 8:30am and the school day starts promptly at 8:40am. Pupils are expected to arrive on time, ready to learn.

Our whole school attendance target for 2025/2026 is for our whole school attendance to be 96% or better and PA (Persistent Absence) to be no higher than 10%. This reflects our drive to improve attendance for everyone and to ensure our children get the best education they can while attending our school.

Why Attendance Matters

Attendance is everyone’s business. We know that the barriers to regular school attendance can be complex and varied, often unique to each child and family. At Reddal Hill Primary school, we believe that by nurturing a calm, orderly, and supportive environment, we help children want to come to school and thrive. 

The law entitles every child of compulsory school age to a full-time education that suits their age, aptitude, and any special educational needs. Parents have a legal responsibility to ensure their child attends school regularly, attending every day the school is open unless prevented by illness or authorised absence.

Regular attendance helps pupils:

  • Make consistent academic progress
  • Build friendships and confidence
  • Develop positive habits for later life

What can you do:

As parents and carers, your role is crucial in promoting good attendance. Here are some ways you can support your child’s attendance:

  • Ensure your child attends school every day unless they are too ill.
  • Be organised, make sure your child arrives to school on time, ready to learn.
  • Contact the school on each day of absence to let us know the reason.
  • Arrange medical appointments outside of school hours where possible.
  • Encourage a positive attitude towards school and learning at home.
  • Avoid booking holidays, trips and visits during term time, as these can disrupt learning.
  • Talk to us early if your child is experiencing difficulties that affect attendance.

Reporting an Absence

If your child is unable to attend school, please inform us on the first day of absence.

You can report an absence line by 8:30am.

  • Telephone: 01384 569053
  • Email: info@reddalhill.sandwell.sch.uk

Please include:

  • Your child’s full name and class
  • The reason for the absence
  • The expected return date (if known)

If we do not receive a reason for your child's absence, we will contact you the same day.

Absence Explained

When is absence authorised?

When a pupil is absent from school, the absence will be recorded as either ‘authorised’ or ‘unauthorised’.

Only school can decide which absences are authorised and this is based upon the information you provide.

Authorised absences are granted only for valid reasons such as:
• Illness which is severe enough to warrant time away from school
• Medical or dental appointments that cannot be made outside of school hours
• Religious observance
• Family bereavement for a close relative

If the absence is recorded as authorised, no further action will be taken against you. However, we may still contact you to discuss ongoing causes of absence to see how we can support your child’s learning.

When is absence unauthorised?

If the reason provided for absence is not regarded as essential or unavoidable; or if no reason is provided at all, the sessions, your child has missed will be recorded as unauthorised.

Unauthorised absences can include:

• Shopping trips
• Waiting for a delivery
• Family birthdays
• Visiting relatives/visits from relatives
• Family outings
• Not having the correct school uniform (school can provide support)
• Family holidays/leave of absence without exceptional circumstances

We rigorously monitor the attendance of all pupils and have a duty to pass on any concerns to the Local Authority, who may take legal action against parents if attendance does not improve.
Our aim is to work with you and your child to overcome any issues that are a barrier to regular attendance and to prevent further action from being taken against you.

Holidays and Family Visits During Term Time

We appreciate that family time is important, but we encourage you to plan holidays and visits to family outside of term time wherever possible. Taking time off during the school term can disrupt your child’s learning and the progress they make.

  • Requests for term-time holidays must be made prior to booking or at least 10 days in advance and will be considered carefully in line with government guidance and our attendance policy.
  • Leave of absence will only be authorised in exceptional circumstances.
  • Unauthorised absences may result in penalties as outlined by local authority regulations.

Key Attendance Terms Explained

We want to ensure all parents understand how attendance is monitored and the terminology used:

Persistent Absence (PA)

  • What it means: When a child’s attendance falls to 90% or below.
  • Why it matters: This means your child has missed 19 or more school days in the academic year, which can affect their learning and social development.
  • Our approach: We work with families to identify any barriers and offer support to improve attendance.

Severe Absence (Severe Persistent Absence)

  • What it means: When a child misses more than 50% of school.
  • Why it matters: These pupils face significant challenges attending regularly and often need more intensive support.
  • Our approach: We collaborate with external agencies and families to provide tailored support and help remove barriers to attendance.

Risk of Persistent Absence

  • What it means: Children whose attendance is declining and may soon become persistently absent.
  • Why it matters: Early identification helps us intervene before attendance becomes a serious concern.
  • Our approach: We monitor attendance closely and engage with parents early to offer advice and assistance. See tables 1 and 2 which is how we identify pupils who may be Risk of PA.

 

Punctuality

Arriving late disrupts learning and can be distressing for children.

  • Persistent lateness will be monitored and followed up.
  • Parents may be invited to meet with school staff to provide support.
  • Parents will be asked to sign their children into school if they arrive late, providing the school with a reason. 

How We Support Good Attendance

We monitor attendance closely and:

  • Celebrate good and improved attendance.
  • Work with families at an early stage where concerns arise.
  • Offer support through meetings and attendance contracts.
  • Liaise with the local authority when required.

  • We provide pupils with a high-quality curriculum that supports their learning and development.

Working Together

We believe attendance is a shared responsibility. If you are experiencing difficulties affecting your child’s attendance, please contact us as early as possible so we can work together to help.

For further information or support, please contact:

Attendance Champion: Mrs H Rogers

 Email: hayley.rogers@reddalhill.sandwell.sch.uk

Phone: 01384 569053

  1. Attendance Policy 2025-2026 pdf

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