Attendance
The government are very committed to improving school attendance following the COVID-19 pandemic. Please remember the negative impact your child's absence will have on their progress and learning.
From 8th January 2024, Government launched a national campaign to remind parents and carers of the importance of school attendance. As part of this campaign, we have been asked to share the following important data with you regarding attendance:
The link between attendance and attainment is clear:
• In 2018/19, just 40% of persistently absent (PA) children in KS2 achieved expected KS2 standards, compared with 84% of pupils who were regular attenders.
• And 36% of PA children in KS4 got 9 to 4 in their English and maths GCSEs, also compared with 84% of regular attenders.
And it’s never too late to benefit from good attendance.
• More than half (54%) of pupils who were PA in Year 10 and then rarely absent in Year 11, passed at least 5 GCSEs, compared to 36% of pupils who were persistently absent in both years.2 But attendance is important for more than just attainment:
• Regular school attendance can facilitate positive peer relationships, which is a protective factor for mental health and wellbeing.
A Persistently Absent (PA) child is a child who attends school for less than 90% of the time. This is why families of children with attendance below 90% receive letters to inform them of this and to offer support to the child and their family to improve attendance, as we understand that every child’s circumstances and needs are unique.
Families have been sent information regarding the importance of reminding the children of the ‘Catch it, Bin it, kill it’ approach to prevent the spread of germs. Families also received some government guidance entitled’ Is my child too ill for school?’ and the link is also here. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/
Please also see the links below to find out more about why your child’s attendance is so important;