ATTENDANCE & PUNCTUALITY

At St. Michael’s, we believe that every day counts. Regular attendance and punctuality are essential for your child’s learning, well-being and safety. Every child has the right to an education (UNCRC Article 28) and missing school can have a serious impact on academic progress, social development and future opportunities.

This guidance aligns with our Attendance and Punctuality Policy which sets out the school’s expectations, monitoring procedures, support systems and legal responsibilities.

Our Attendance Targets

• Whole-school target: 97% attendance.

• Minimum expectation for pupils: 95% attendance.

• Persistent absence: Below 90%; severe absence: Below 50%.

• Every day counts: Missing 10% of school in a year equates to nearly 4 weeks of missed learning (19 days or 80 lessons).

Health and Safety

• Children must not return to school until 48 hours after their last bout of vomiting or diarrhoea. This is essential to protect your child and their peers (UNCRC Article 24).

• If your child is unwell, please contact the school every day of absence via phone, email, or the Arbor system.

Parental Responsibilities

• Ensure your child attends school every day the school is open.

• Ensure your child arrives on time:

  • • Years 1–6: 08:30–08:40

    • Reception: 08:35–08:45

    • Nursery: 08:45–08:50

• Pupils arriving more than 10 minutes after registration closes will be marked unauthorised (U code), which affects attendance figures. Persistent lateness may result in a Punctuality Meeting.

• Collect your child at the agreed time. Repeated late collections may require a meeting to support your child’s well-being.

• Notify the school promptly of any barriers to attendance so that we can provide support.

Our Commitment to Support Attendance

• First-day response: We will contact you if no reason for absence is provided.
  Monitoring: Attendance is tracked daily and analysed monthly to identify patterns and provide support early.

• Support and intervention: Parents will be invited to Attendance Meetings if repeated absence occurs. Support may include guidance, targeted interventions, or referrals to external agencies.

Punctuality

• Being on time is essential for learning and classroom routines.

• Late arrivals disrupt the class and can affect your child’s overall attendance record.

• Children walking independently are monitored and contact will be made if they are more than 10 minutes late beyond gate closure.

Why Attendance Matters

• Regular attendance improves learning, behaviour, safeguarding, and overall well-being.

• Poor attendance or persistent lateness may trigger formal action under the Wandsworth Local Authority Code of Conduct, including Penalty Notices or referral to the Education Welfare Service.

This information is guided by the St. Michael’s CE School Attendance and Punctuality Policy, which provides detailed guidance on attendance, punctuality, absence reporting, support strategies and statutory responsibilities.