Attendance
Every day matters. Every child matters.
At the heart of our federation is our guiding principle of Unity. Our vision, “Together We Are ACE,” reminds us that we are stronger when we are together, supporting one another and sharing in the life of our school communities.
Good attendance is an important part of this. When children are in school regularly, they are able to learn, develop friendships, take part in enrichment and wider school experiences, and build a strong sense of belonging. Being present means being part of our federation family.
We want every child to know that their presence matters.
Why does good attendance matter?
Every school day brings opportunities to learn, practise new skills, build relationships and develop confidence and independence. When children miss school, they may miss important teaching, experiences with their friends and opportunities to take part fully in school life.
Absence can also begin to have a wider impact when it becomes a pattern. Repeated absence or lateness can make it harder for children to keep up with their learning, maintain friendships and feel connected to school. Our attendance policy recognises that attendance is closely connected with learning, wellbeing, safeguarding and inclusion, and we therefore look carefully at patterns of absence rather than simply focusing on an overall percentage.
Good attendance is not about expecting children to attend when they are genuinely unwell. We understand that children can face a range of barriers to attending school, including anxiety, mental or physical health difficulties, SEND, friendship difficulties, bullying, bereavement, family circumstances and other social, emotional or practical challenges.
Our approach is therefore both ambitious and compassionate: high expectations alongside care, encouragement and support.
Our commitment to attendance
We believe that good attendance begins with belonging.
Across both Bramford CEVC Primary School and Somersham Primary School, we work to create welcoming, inclusive environments where children feel safe, valued and want to come to school. We celebrate good attendance, communicate openly with families and monitor attendance carefully so that emerging concerns can be identified early.
We will:
- welcome every child and help them feel that they belong;
- promote the benefits of regular attendance and good punctuality;
- monitor attendance and patterns of absence carefully;
- talk to children and families when attendance begins to cause concern;
- seek to understand the reasons behind absence rather than making assumptions;
- work with families to identify and remove barriers to attendance;
- provide appropriate support and adjustments where needed;
- work with external agencies where additional support is required;
- support children to return successfully following a period of absence; and
- take appropriate action where attendance does not improve despite support being offered.
We are here to help
If your child is finding it difficult to attend school, please talk to us early. You do not need to wait until attendance has become a significant concern.
We will listen, work with you to understand what is making attendance difficult and consider what support might help. Depending on the individual circumstances, this could include a trusted adult, a supported arrival, adjustments to routines, pastoral support, reasonable adjustments, support from our SEND or safeguarding teams, a phased or supported reintegration, or help from an appropriate external service.
If a child has been absent for a period of time, we will also work with them and their family to make returning to school as positive and manageable as possible. Our aim is always to help children reconnect with school, feel welcomed and return to full-time education when this is appropriate and practicable.
Attendance and our ACE values
Our approach to attendance is closely connected to Together We Are ACE.
Achievement – regular attendance gives children the opportunity to engage fully with their learning and achieve their potential.
Responsibility and Respect – attending school regularly helps children develop responsibility for themselves, their learning and their relationships with others.
Try and Try Again – we encourage children to persevere when something feels difficult, including when returning to school after a period of absence.
Independent Learner – being in school regularly helps children develop the confidence, knowledge and skills they need to become independent learners.
Creativity – school provides children with opportunities to explore, create, question and discover alongside others.
Live, Learn and Laugh – school is about more than lessons. It is about friendships, experiences, memories, joy and belonging.
Everyone Working Together – good attendance is a shared responsibility. Children, families and school staff all have an important part to play.
Sharing and Caring – we want our children to experience the care, friendship, generosity and sense of community that comes from being part of our federation.
Together, we can make every day count
Our attendance approach reflects our guiding principle of Unity. We want our schools to be communities where everyone looks out for one another, where barriers are met with support, and where every child knows that they are valued and that their contribution matters.
Every day matters. Every child matters.
Together We Are ACE.
