Holiday Dates & Parents Calendar

At Eccleston Lane Ends Primary School, all staff are heavily invested in making sure each child has good attendance at school. We use a relational approach to build strong connections with children and families and work hard to understand the factors underneath low school attendance. 

The Importance of School Attendance

We want our children to enjoy coming to school. Our attendance ‘floor target’ is 96%, but we aim for 100%. Research has proven that there is a high correlation between school attendance and academic performance and success. Absence from school is often the greatest single cause of poor performance and achievement. 

Most parents want their children to get on well in life and it is more important than ever to have a good education behind you if you want opportunities in adult life. Children only get one chance at school, and chances of a successful future may be affected by not attending school regularly.

Why is it so important to attend school every day?

• Learning is a progressive activity; each day’s lessons build upon those of the previous day(s).

• Reading the material and completing work independently does not compensate for direct interaction with the teacher and other pupils.

• Many classes use discussions, demonstrations, experiments and participation as part of the daily learning activities, and these cannot be made up by those who are absent.

• Pupils with good attendance records generally achieve higher grades and enjoy school more.

• Having a good education will help to give your child the best possible start in life.

• Regular school attendance patterns encourage the development of other responsible patterns of behaviour.

• Setting good attendance patterns will also help your child later on. Employers want to recruit people who are reliable. Children who have a poor school attendance record may have less chance of getting a good job.

• Attending every day enables children to build strong and positive relationships with adults and peers, which will prepare them for life in the wider world. 

• It helps staff in school to check in with families every day and if any support is needed we can act as quickly as possible to help. 

What are the risks of frequent absences?

• A child who does not attend school regularly will be unlikely to keep up with the work which means they will not make as much academic progress as they could.

• Pupils will miss out on social interactions with their friends. Poor attendance can affect children’s ability to make and keep friendships, a vital part of growing up.

• Pupils will miss out on opportunities such as clubs, educational visits and wider experiences.

What can parents do to help?

• Parents should model the value of education, including the importance of regular attendance.

• Make sure that your child goes to school regularly and arrives on time-you will establish a good habit that they will carry through life.

• Trust us that, if your child is unwell, we will look after them and notify you if they need to come home 

• If your child starts missing school, work with the school to put things right.

• Make sure your child understands that you do not approve of him/her missing school.

• If your child is ill or must miss school for some other reason, contact school immediately.

• Take an interest in your child’s work and be involved in the school as much as possible-your child will value school more if you do

If you like to discuss your child’s attendance or require any support to improve your child’s attendance please contact our Learning Mentor.

What is unacceptable absence at Eccleston Lane Ends?

• Holiday

• Shopping

• Birthday treats and trips

• Looking after others at home

• Tiredness

• Non-urgent medical or dental appointments

What does the Law say?

• You must inform the school if your child cannot attend on 01744 678270.

• You have a legal responsibility to make sure your child gets provided with a full time education between the ages of 4 and 16.

• You can be fined up to £2500, placed on electronic monitoring, or even imprisoned if your child’s attendance is below expected.

• You could be given a parenting order, which means you will have to attend a parenting class.

• You may be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice of £80 (£160 if not paid within 21 days) per parent, per child.

• You may be contacted by our Pastoral Lead, at your home to discuss the problem further.

How can you help your child develop a routine…

• In the evening, have a routine of dinner, homework, watch TV, read and pack bag for the following day.

• Make sure your child has plenty of sleep and is not awake late using their phone, games console, computer or iPad.

• Breakfast and a drink in the morning helps to speed up the metabolism, making children more alert and ready for learning.

Don’t give in to your child…

• You are the adult and it is your responsibility to make important decisions.

• If your child complains of feeling unwell, make sure they are truly ill before allowing time off school.

• If your child regularly complains of feeling ill, with no medical reason, contact your child’s Learning Mentor or class teacher, so the matter can be investigated further.

Sometimes you need extra support, Young Minds have created a useful guide for helping to deal with school anxiety and refusal, with strategies you can try at home. This presentation will also help children to deal with their school-related worries.

Reward your child…

• We reward your child at school for acceptable attendance and attainment.

• You could add your own rewards at home – these can be as simple as verbal praise, or telling family and friends about successes.

• Better attendance leads to better qualifications allowing your child to choose their own career path.

Did you know?

• The Government expect all students to have 97% attendance.

• 90% attendance is not classed as good and means missing on average ½ a day EVERY week – your child will also be classed as Persistent Absentee (PA) and additional support or sanctions may be given.

• 90% attendance is the equivalent of missing 4 whole weeks in one school year - the equivalent of missing 100 hours of learning in lessons.

• 80% attendance is the same as missing 1 full day a week and missing 1 full year of education at Eccleston Lane Ends.

• A 2 week holiday each year, whilst at Eccleston Lane Ends, will mean your child has missed 14 weeks of learning – over ¼ of a school year.

• A 2 week holiday automatically reduces your child to below 95% attendance

• School truants are 6 times more likely to be unemployed.

Application for Leave of Absence in Term Time

From 1st September 2013, the Department of Education changed the regulations regarding requests for family holidays during term time. The changes mean there is no legal entitlement for parents to take their children on holiday during term time. The new regulations also make it clear that Head Teachers may not authorise leave during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.

All requests for leave of absence in term time must be made in advance. Please see the letter below, paper copies are also available from the office.

St Helens council will use the full range of sanctions available, such as Fixed Penalty Notices, where leave of absence is taken without the permission of the school. The council will regularly monitor school absence during term-time and will work with Head Teachers to ensure parents adhere to the new legislation.