Behaviour, Attendance & Welfare
Back to Key informationSchool Attendance at Horninglow Primary School
At Horninglow Primary School, we believe that excellent attendance is essential for every child’s learning, wellbeing and future success. Being in school every day helps children build strong routines, develop friendships and make the most of the high-quality education we provide.
We aim for all pupils to achieve at least 97% attendance, and we work closely with families to remove any barriers that may affect regular school attendance. Our approach is proactive, supportive and partnership-focused, ensuring that children and parents feel listened to and supported.
Our Commitment to Attendance
We know that good attendance doesn’t happen by accident. At Horninglow, we:
- Monitor attendance and punctuality daily.
- Contact families promptly if a child is absent without explanation.
- Intervene early when attendance drops below 95%.
- Build strong relationships with families to understand and overcome barriers such as anxiety, illness or school refusal.
- Celebrate improvements and good attendance.
- Use a fair, consistent approach while considering individual family circumstances.
We follow the Department for Education guidance ‘Working Together to Improve School Attendance’ and apply our policy with care, understanding and high expectations.
Working in Partnership with Families
Attendance is most successful when school and home work together. We encourage parents and carers to communicate with us as early as possible if something is affecting their child’s attendance.
Support available at Horninglow includes:
- Our Pupil Support Manager, who works closely with children and families.
- Regular attendance clinics to review concerns and plan next steps.
- Individual attendance action plans where needed.
- Pastoral support and mentoring for pupils.
- Referrals to external agencies such as Early Help, Education Welfare, health services and emotional wellbeing services.
- Support from Staffordshire County Council initiatives, including the Little Hero Campaign, which promotes the importance of being in school every day and celebrates positive attendance habits.
Our aim is always to support before we sanction, helping families feel confident and able to improve attendance together with us.
Absence and Leave of Absence
If your child is unwell, parents/carers must contact school before 9:00am on the first day of absence and every day thereafter.
Where possible:
- Medical and dental appointments should be made outside school hours.
- Holidays during term time are not authorised except in exceptional circumstances.
- A Request for Leave of Absence form must be completed at least 5 days in advance.
Unauthorised absence may lead to involvement from the Local Authority and, in some cases, a Penalty Notice (fine) in line with national guidance.
Punctuality Matters
School gates close at 8:40am and registration begins at 8:45am.
Arriving late means your child misses vital learning and affects their overall attendance. Persistent lateness is monitored and may require further support meetings with families.
If You Are Worried About Your Child’s Attendance
We understand that some children find attending school difficult at times. If your child is anxious, reluctant or showing changes in behaviour, please speak to us early.
We can offer:
- A named adult for your child.
- Safe spaces in school.
- Support with routines.
- Home-school communication plans.
- Referrals to specialist services if needed.
Early support makes a big difference, and we are here to help.
Top Attendance Tips for Parents
You can support your child’s attendance by:
Talking to your child about how important it is to attend school every day.
Showing an interest in what your child has done at school each day.
If you think your child is trying to avoid school, try to find out why – ask them, their friends and their teachers.
Helping your child keep to routines – bedtime, getting up on time and completing homework on the night it is set.
Avoiding medical or dental appointments during school hours unless unavoidable.
Encouraging after-school and extra-curricular activities.
Talking to your child’s teacher if you notice sudden changes in behaviour.
Remembering that habits are formed early – it becomes much harder if children are allowed to stay at home ‘just this once’.
Together We Can Make Every Day Count
At Horninglow Primary School, we believe every day matters. By working together with families, external partners and our dedicated staff, we ensure children feel safe, supported and ready to learn every day they attend.
If you have any questions or concerns about attendance, please contact the school — we are always happy to help.
Attendance Team
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Mrs R Winter
|
Attendance Lead |
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Mrs E Matysiak
|
Attendance Champion |
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Mrs L Grice
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Pastoral Lead |
|
Mrs K Grosse
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Attendance Administrator |
