At Elson Junior School, we take attendance very seriously because we know that children who attend school regularly achieve more and feel more confident in their learning. We will always work in partnership with families to ensure every child is in school, settled and ready to learn. 

Why good attendance matters 

Every school day is important. Even small amounts of absence can have a significant impact on your child’s learning and wellbeing. 

Children who attend school regularly are more likely to: 

• Achieve well in reading, writing and mathematics 

• Feel confident participating in lessons 

• Maintain positive friendships 

• Feel connected to their school community 

When children miss school, they can develop gaps in their learning which may make it harder to keep up with the curriculum.  

At Elson Junior School, we aim for every child to achieve at least 95% attendance, helping them to access the full curriculum and succeed in their education. 

What good attendance looks like 

Parents and carers can monitor their child’s attendance through the Arbor app. 

The table below shows how attendance levels relate to learning time missed over a school year. 

Pupils with attendance below 90% are classed as persistently absent by the Department for Education. 

What should I do if my child is ill or unable to attend school? 

We understand that children are sometimes unwell / unable to attend for unexpected reasons. 

If your child is absent, please telephone or email the school office before 9:00am to report the absence. When leaving a message, please clearly state the reason for the absence. 

If we do not receive notification, the school office will contact you by phone call or text message, in line with our Safeguarding and Attendance policies, to ensure your child is safe. 

Avoiding unnecessary absence 

To support your child’s learning, we ask families to avoid absences wherever possible. 

Absences should not normally occur for: 

• Holidays during term time 

• Family visits 

• Minor ailments 

• Routine medical or dental appointments 

Where possible, medical and dental appointments should be arranged outside of school hours or during school holidays. 

Requesting leave during term time 

Medical and dental appointments should be taken outside school hours whenever possible. If an appointment must take place during the school day, evidence must be provided, such as: 

• Appointment letters 

• Text message confirmations from the surgery 

• Treatment plans with dates and times 

If evidence cannot be provided beforehand, please request confirmation during the appointment. The school office can provide a Medical Evidence Form for the professional to sign or stamp if required. 

Appointments taken without evidence will be recorded as unauthorised absence. 

Term-time holidays 

Holidays or other absences during term time will not normally be authorised, except in extremely rare circumstances. If you wish to request leave for your child during term time for reasons other than illness or medical appointments, you must complete a Request for Absence Form, available from the school office. The Headteacher will review the request and inform you of the outcome. Please note that penalty notices may be issued for unauthorised absences, in line with national and local authority guidance. 

Working together with families 

At Elson Junior School, we recognise that some families may need support to improve attendance. If you have concerns about your child’s attendance, please contact your child’s class teacher through the school office in the first instance. We are always happy to listen and work together to find supportive solutions.