School Attendance

Every Child’s Right to a Full-Time Education

Every child of compulsory school age is entitled by law to a full-time education that meets their needs and helps them succeed. Parents and carers are legally responsible for making sure this happens—either by sending their child to school or by providing education in another way.

If your child is registered at a school, you must ensure they attend regularly. This means being in school all day, every day it’s open, unless there’s a valid reason, such as illness or an absence agreed in advance.

Attendance Register

Attendance Registers – How It Works

We’re required by law to take the attendance register twice each day:

✅ Morning: At the start of the school day
✅ Afternoon: Confirmed just before home time

Each time, we record whether your child is in school and, if not, the reason for their absence using official attendance codes.

Arrival and Departure Codes

Arrive before 8:50am → / code – On time
Arrive between 8:50am and 9:20am → L code – Late (before registers close)
Arrive after 9:20am → U code – Late (after registers close)
Leave early or arrive late for a medical appointment → M code
Leave at normal time (3:10pm KS1 / 3:15pm KS2) → \ code – End of school day

If your child leaves early for another reason, we’ll update the register with the correct code based on the reason provided.

Parent/Carer responsibilities

What We Expect from Parents and Carers

Everyday Responsibilities:

Make sure your child attends school every day it’s open (unless there’s a statutory reason)
Let us know as soon as possible if your child is unexpectedly absent (e.g., sickness)
Only request leave of absence in exceptional circumstances—and do so in advance
Book medical appointments outside school hours when possible

If Attendance Becomes a Concern:

Work with the school and local authority to identify any barriers to attendance
Engage with the support offered to avoid formal intervention or legal action