Improving Attendance

Good attendance means 95% or above

We need your help in improving your child’s attendance.

 Below is a collection of hints and tips to help.  

Please note we will no longer be authorizing absence or holidays in school time where the pupil’s attendance is below 90%

1. Remember to let your child know how much being ready for school on time helps the whole family.
2. Talk to your child about school and any problems they might have.
3. Ensure your child is awake in plenty of time every school morning.
4. Arrange your child’s doctors, dentists, and hospital appointments for after school whenever possible.
5. Teach your child how to set their alarm clock.
6. Tell your child how important school is.
7. Encourage your child to prepare their school uniform the night before.
8. Implementing no TV some school mornings may be a good idea.
9. Take family holidays during school holiday periods.

An A-Z of School Attendance: A Guide for Parents/Carers

A Appointments – Nearly all surgeries are open late and at weekends. Try to arrange appointments after school.

B Being Bullied? – Don’t keep your child off school. There are many people that are trained and want to help. Check out www.childline.org.uk for more information.

C Casual Absence – This means that children are being kept off school when they don’t need to be. For example, to go shopping for birthday treats, or pretend sickness. 

D Dinner Money – Prepare this on Sunday evenings. It will save time the following morning. 

E Encourage – Encourage your child to take part in out of school hours activities such as breakfast clubs. It allows them to experience new activities and meet new friends.

F Friendships – Friendships at school can stay with your child for the rest of their life. Days off school make it harder for your child to fit back into friendship groups.

G Good Attendance – This is the secret to your child’s success. Good attendance is anything above 95%. 

H Happy Times – Schooldays can be the best time of your child’s life. Don’t let them miss out. 

I INSET Days – These are teacher training days. Your child is not at school these days so please find out when they are. Be aware that different schools have different INSET days so don’t assume these will be the same for children at different schools.

J Jump for Joy! – Celebrate your child’s attendance achievements when they are rewarded for good attendance at school.

K Keep Fit – A healthy lifestyle means a healthy mind. A nutritious breakfast will give your child the energy they need for the rest of the day. Drinking plenty of water helps concentration too! 

L Lateness – Being late disrupts teaching plans and worries your child’s friends. But if your are genuinely late please don’t keep your child off for the rest of the day. Being in late and in school is better than being absent and missing out! 

M Missed Minutes – As little as 15 minutes late every day is equal to two weeks of lost learning per year!

N New Starters – It is important to get children into good patterns of attendance from an early age so these can be carried through into later life.

O Opportunities – It’s not all maths, English and science. School is about learning how to be good citizens and treating others with respect. Children can also be part of many trips, clubs, groups and teams.

P Praise – Always look for the ‘positives’ in testing situations rather than the ‘negatives’. Have a system at home to reward and praise good behaviour.

Q Question – Ask your child about rewards they may receive from their school for good attendance.

R Ring In! – Ring school as soon as you know your child is going to be absent or late. It stops teachers and friends worrying.

S Summative tests – These are very important tests that your child will sit in throughout the year. Absence leading up to or during tests puts your child at a significant disadvantage.

T Term Time Holidays – Children are out of school 175 days of the year so there are plenty days to take holidays. Holidays taken during term time can cause your child to fall behind with work.

U Unauthorised Absence – This means that the school won’t endorse the time your child has been away from school. For example significant lateness, holidays taken during term time or absences with no explanation.

V Volunteer – Volunteer your help to nearby parents should they be struggling to get their child into school on time.

W Website – Visit www.Willows.cardiff.sch.uk throughout the year for useful information on holidays, school opening and closing times and hints and tips on school attendance.

X ‘Extra praise. – Make sure your child understands the importance of and is rewarded for good attendance.

Y You – You are legally responsible for ensuring your child attends school. Your child will thank you one day for encouraging them to attend and achieve good results.

Z Zzzz – Early bedtimes make for early mornings and a better start to the school day.

 Please note we will no longer be authorizing absence or holidays in school time where the

pupil’s attendance is below 90%

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