Attendance
Is Your Child Missing Out?
Research shows that regular attendance and good punctuality are crucial factors in children achieving their full potential at school. At Woodland Primary School, we are proud to work in partnership with parents and carers to ensure all children attend school every day and on time. We are always ready to help solve any barriers you may have in achieving this.
The target attendance figure for all children is a minimum of 96% attendance, which only allows for 7 days absence across the full school year.
Reporting Absences
We expect your child to attend school every day, however, if your child is ill and unable to attend, please inform the school office before 9am. As a school we have a duty of care and therefore if we do not hear from you we will contact you via phone or carry out a home visit.
School telephone number: 01482 787000
School email: admin@woodland.het.academy
The school office is open from 8am – 4pm Monday to Friday
The NHS provide advice on when it may be necessary to keep children away from school due to illness. This information can be found via the following link: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/
They also provide advice on how to keep your child healthy to minimise their absence from school. This information can be found via the following link: https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2025/10/top-tips-how-child-healthy-school/
Absence
Only the school can authorise absences. Both authorised and unauthorised absences count towards your child’s total absence percentage. The school has a duty to notify the Local Authority when a child has 10 unauthorised absences within a ten week period. They may then issue a fine.
An ‘unauthorised absence’ is when your child is absent from school without good reason. Woodland Primary School will not normally authorise absence for the following reasons: shopping during school hours; holidays during term time; day trips; birthdays; looking after brothers and sisters; illness of brothers and sisters.
Lateness
It is very important that children arrive at school on time every day as this sets the pattern for the rest of their school life. Our school day starts at 8.45am and the register is taken at 8.55am.
If your child arrives after the register but before 9.25am, they will receive a late mark. If they arrive after 9.25am they will receive an unauthorised absence mark.
Regular lateness not only seriously disrupts the learning of the child arriving late but also interrupts the learning of the class they are arriving late to.
Leave of Absence for Holidays in Term Time
Woodland Primary School will not approve leave of absence for holidays in term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. Unapproved absence for this reason will be classed as unauthorised and could lead to a fine from the Local Authority.
Each case is dealt with individually and if parents feel their reasons are exceptional circumstances, they will be asked to explain their reasons in full and provide supporting evidence to support their case.
Routine Appointments
Medical and dental appointments should, whenever possible, be arranged for after school or during school holidays.
If this is unavoidable please inform the school as early as possible and bring in the letter/appointment card.
Children must attend school before and after the appointment time.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if my child is absent?
Contact the school as soon as possible to tell them why your child is absent, and when you expect them to return.
What will happen if I do not inform school of my child’s absence?
You can expect to be telephoned/text by the school staff to ask why your child is absent or be visited by the school Attendance Officer.
What will happen if my child’s attendance or punctuality is identified as a concern?
If we are concerned about your child’s attendance or punctuality we will, in the first instance, contact you to explain our concerns, offer support if needed and request that your child’s attendance and/or punctuality improve.
If your child’s attendance does not then improve you may expect:
Positive Environment: The school’s environment fosters respect and support among pupils and staff. Pupils are encouraged to develop good manners and social skills, contributing to a positive school culture.
Support for SEND: Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are quickly identified and well-supported, achieving good outcomes as a result.
Leadership and Ambition: School leaders are noted for their ambition and effective work in improving the school. Their efforts have resulted in a good quality of education for the pupils.
Quality of Education: Pupils receive strong support in learning to read quickly and achieving well. The curriculum is well-planned and effective, particularly in the early years and mathematics. Teachers and teaching assistants are well-trained and provide clear explanations and encouragement.
Overall Effectiveness: The school was rated ‘Good’ in all categories, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision.
Safeguarding: The school has effective safeguarding measures in place. Staff are well-informed and confident in identifying and addressing potential risks to pupils. Pupils are knowledgeable about staying safe, particularly online.
Behaviour and Attitudes: Pupils exhibit respectful relationships with adults and move around the school sensibly. They are confident in seeking help from staff if needed, and bullying is rare. Pupils listen attentively to teachers and engage in class discussions.
Personal Development: Pupils are encouraged to be independent from an early age and take care in presenting their work. They enjoy participating in various clubs and activities, including sporting competitions and educational visits.