‘Central to raising standards in education and ensuring all pupils can fulfil their potential is an assumption so widely understood that it is insufficiently stated – pupils need to attend school regularly to benefit from their education. Missing out on lessons leaves children vulnerable to falling behind. Children with poor attendance tend to achieve less in both primary and secondary school’.

School Attendance: Statutory guidance and departmental advice, DfE Aug 2014

Hampton Dene Primary School is committed to providing an education of the highest quality for all its students and recognises this can only be achieved by supporting and promoting excellent school attendance for all. This is based on the belief that only by attending school regularly and punctually will children and young people be able to take full advantage of the educational opportunities available to them. High attainment depends on good attendance. The whole school community has a responsibility in ensuring pupils have good school attendance.

We expect the highest attendance and punctuality from all pupils, at all times. We support pupils and their families to ensure that excellent attendance is achieved. We are working towards our goal of 100% attendance for all pupils. 

Overall Aims:

• to ensure that every child is safeguarded and their right to education is protected
• to ensure the school attendance target is achieved, through rewards and incentives for good attendance and punctuality
• to raise standards and ensure every child reaches their full educational potential, through a high level of school attendance and punctuality
• to ensure all the stakeholders, governors, parents, pupils and staff receive regular communication about the importance of good attendance and punctuality
• to keep accurate, up-to-date records and have a robust and rigorous system for analysing attendance
• to identify causes of low attendance/punctuality with individuals, classes and groups of pupils and address them
• to work with external agencies, in order to address barriers to attendance and overcome them

A hard copy of this policy is available from the school office.