Witamy w kościele św. Bernadety
Learn to love, love to learn
Every Day Counts
At St. Bernadette's, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to learn, thrive and succeed. Regular attendance at school is one of the most important factors in helping children achieve their full potential.
Children who attend school regularly are more likely to:
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Make strong academic progress.
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Develop positive friendships and social skills.
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Feel connected to their school community.
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Build confidence, resilience and independence.
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Develop positive habits that support future success.
Attendance is everyone's responsibility and we are committed to working in partnership with families to ensure every child attends school regularly and on time.
Why Attendance Matters
Even small amounts of absence can quickly add up and have a significant impact on learning.
When attendance falls below 90% are classed as Persistently Absent by the Department for Education.
Punctuality Matters Too
Arriving late to school can have a significant impact on learning.
Just 15 minutes late every day results in almost two weeks of learning lost over the course of a school year.
Being on time helps children settle quickly, begin learning with their peers and develop positive habits for the future.
Our Attendance Expectations
We expect all pupils to attend school every day unless they are genuinely unwell or there are exceptional circumstances preventing attendance.
We encourage families to aim for attendance of at least 96%.
Where attendance begins to fall, we will work with families to identify any barriers and provide appropriate support.
Reporting an Absence
If your child is unable to attend school, please inform us as soon as possible on the first day of absence.
Attendance Form
If we do not receive a reason for absence, we will contact parents and carers to ensure children are safe and accounted for.
Illness and Medical Appointments
We understand that children will occasionally be unwell.
Parents and carers are encouraged to use NHS guidance when deciding whether a child is too ill to attend school.
Whenever possible, medical and dental appointments should be arranged outside school hours.
Where this is not possible, children should attend school before and after appointments whenever appropriate.
Holidays During Term Time
The Department for Education does not allow schools to authorise holidays during term time except in exceptional circumstances.
Parents and carers should submit a Leave of Absence Request Form before making any travel arrangements.
Every day of learning matters. A two-week holiday during term time can result in more than 50 lessons being missed which cannot be replicated.
Further information can be found in our Attendance Policy.
How We Support Attendance
We recognise that attendance difficulties can arise for many different reasons and that every family is unique.
Research shows that the most effective approach to improving attendance is understanding individual barriers and providing tailored support.
Our attendance team works closely with pupils and families to identify challenges and provide support where needed.
Support We Can Offer
Wellbeing and Emotional Support
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Morning wellbeing groups.
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Daily check-ins with trusted adults.
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Pastoral support.
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Referrals to Compass and other support services where appropriate.
Family Support
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Attendance meetings with parents and carers.
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Early Help assessments.
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Multi-agency support.
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Signposting to external services.
Practical Support
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Breakfast club places.
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Support with establishing morning routines.
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Advice and guidance for families experiencing difficulties.
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We encourage families to contact us early if they are experiencing any difficulties which may affect attendance.
Celebrating Attendance
At St. Bernadette's, we believe that recognising improvement is just as important as celebrating high attendance.
Throughout the year we celebrate attendance through:
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Attendance certificates.
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Attendance prizes.
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Most Improved Attendance awards.
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Afternoon Tea celebrations for pupils showing significant improvement.
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Positive attendance messages sent home to families.
Our aim is to create a positive culture where attendance is valued, recognised and celebrated.
Attendance in Nursery and Reception
Good attendance habits begin from the very start of a child's educational journey.
Although Nursery children are not yet of statutory school age, regular attendance helps children:
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Establish positive routines.
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Build friendships.
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Develop confidence and independence.
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Access important early learning experiences.
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Research suggests that attendance habits developed in the early years often continue throughout a child's school career. For this reason, we encourage strong attendance from the moment children join our school community.
Working Together
The most successful attendance outcomes happen when schools and families work together.
If you have concerns about your child's attendance, wellbeing or any circumstances affecting school attendance, please contact us as soon as possible.
We are here to help.
Together, we can ensure every child is in school, on time, every day and ready to learn.