Attendance and punctuality
Every Day Counts at The John Bamford Primary School
At The John Bamford Primary School, attendance is at the heart of our commitment to ensuring every child achieves their full potential.
Our vision is to prepare children to live fulfilled lives as positive, motivated lifelong learners who adapt, contribute and give their best as local, national and global citizens. Regular attendance is fundamental to achieving this vision.
We believe that being in school every day is essential for children’s learning, wellbeing, friendships and future success. Our mission statement, Learning for Life, reflects the importance we place on education and the role attendance plays in a child’s development.
We promote a strong culture where attendance is everyone’s responsibility and every day truly counts.
Our Attendance Culture
We are committed to creating a culture where:
- Children feel safe, happy and want to come to school
- Families understand the importance of regular attendance
- Barriers to attendance are identified early and addressed quickly
- Good attendance is recognised and celebrated
- Support is prioritised before enforcement wherever possible
Attendance is closely linked to safeguarding, wellbeing and achievement, and is treated as a whole-school priority.
Why Attendance Matters
Research consistently shows a direct link between attendance and academic success.
Did you know?
- 90% attendance means a child misses half a day of school every week.
- 95% attendance equals nearly 2 weeks of missed learning each year.
- 90% attendance across primary school equals almost half a school year missed.
- Attendance below 90% is classed as persistent absence by the Government.
Even small amounts of absence quickly add up and can affect progress, confidence and friendships.
Our aim is for all pupils to achieve at least 96% attendance wherever possible.
The Importance of Punctuality
Being on time is just as important as being present.
Arriving late can:
- Disrupt learning
- Affect confidence and routines
- Cause children to miss important teaching
- Interrupt the learning of others
Did you know?
If a child is 5 minutes late every day, they miss:
- Nearly 3 days of learning each year
- Over 2 weeks of learning across primary school
Our School Day
- Gates open: 8:40am
- Gates close: 8:55am
- Registration: 8:45am – 8:55am
Children arriving after 8:55am will be marked late.
Registers close at 9:10am, after which arrival is recorded as an unauthorised absence.
We encourage all children to arrive on time so they are ready to start learning positively with their class.
Working in Partnership with Parents and Carers
Good attendance is a shared responsibility between school and families.
We ask parents and carers to:
- Ensure their child attends school every day wherever possible
- Ensure their child arrives on time
- Inform school promptly about absences
- Avoid taking holidays during term time
- Communicate any concerns or difficulties early
We are committed to working collaboratively with families to achieve the best outcomes for children.
When is My Child Too Ill for School?
We understand that children will sometimes be unwell. However, many minor illnesses do not prevent children from attending school.
Children can usually attend school with:
- Mild coughs or colds
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Mild tummy ache
- Headache
- Feeling slightly tired
- Hay fever
Children should stay at home if they have:
- A high temperature (fever)
- Vomiting or diarrhoea (keep off for 48 hours after last episode)
- A contagious illness (such as chickenpox)
- A medical condition that prevents them from participating safely
If you are unsure, please contact the school office for advice.
We encourage parents to follow NHS guidance where possible.
Supporting Attendance
We recognise that there may sometimes be barriers to attendance, including:
- Illness or medical needs
- Anxiety or emotional wellbeing concerns
- Friendship difficulties
- Family circumstances
- Changes at home
Our approach is supportive and proactive.
We may offer:
- Meetings with parents/carers
- Individual attendance plans
- Pastoral or wellbeing support
- Adjusted arrangements where appropriate
- Referrals to external services
- Support from the Local Authority Attendance Team
Our priority is always to work in partnership with families to improve attendance.
Attendance as a Safeguarding Priority
In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (2025), we recognise that poor attendance or patterns of absence may indicate that a child needs additional support or may be at risk.
Attendance is monitored regularly by our Senior Attendance Champion and Designated Safeguarding Lead to ensure concerns are identified early and support is provided quickly.
Celebrating Good Attendance
We actively promote and celebrate good attendance through:
- Termly attendance certificates
- Class attendance prizes
- Weekly celebration in assemblies
- Attendance displays in school
- Sharing success with families via Class Dojo
We want children to feel proud of their attendance achievements and develop positive lifelong habits.
Leave of Absence During Term Time
Government guidance is clear that leave of absence during term time should only be granted in exceptional circumstances.
Unauthorised absence may result in a Penalty Notice issued by the Local Authority.
We strongly encourage families to plan holidays during school holiday periods wherever possible.
What Happens if Attendance Becomes a Concern?
Our approach follows a graduated response, focused on support:
- Monitoring — attendance reviewed regularly
- Communication — contact with parents to discuss concerns
- Support — meetings and plans to remove barriers
- External Support — involvement of Local Authority if needed
- Formal Action — only where necessary and after support offered
Our aim is always to work together to improve attendance.
Little Heroes Attendance Campaign
We are proud to be part of Staffordshire County Council’s Little Heroes Campaign, promoting the message:
Here, Every Day, Ready, On Time
The campaign supports children with mild illness, worries or anxiety about school and encourages positive attendance habits through engaging resources and activities.
Need Help?
If you are worried about your child’s attendance or punctuality, please contact us as soon as possible. We are here to help and support you.
Together we can ensure every child achieves their very best.
Further Information
For full details, please read our Attendance Policy available below.
