Attendance

Why is attending school important?

Children who miss school, miss out on not only learning and education, but also spending time with other children and friends, which helps with developing social and emotional skills. Children who miss school more than others, sometimes find it more difficult to keep friendships.

Some parents may say taking their children out of school for a few days will not impact on their children’s education. Being at school every day means children’s learning will improve, they will be able to attend all school activities like out-of-school clubs and school trips, and they will have better futures.

We understand everyone is sick sometimes, but regularly taking days off for illness is a cause for concern. Where possible, parents should encourage their children to come to school. 

Long-term effects of missing school

If children are absent, it can impact not only on their academic development, but also their later life. If they are absent for five more days than the average, statistics show that children are more likely to not be in work by age 42 and have lower wages.

Did you know?

• By going to school, children can meet with their friends for social and emotional development and not become isolated at home.
• Children who stay away from school are struggling more with their mental health and some are even unable to leave home.
• It’s much more difficult for children to keep up with their education if they miss school and so fall behind – teachers have to make sure all students are progressing.
• Teachers are following a curriculum, and if children have been out of the class, they may find the next bit of the topic much harder to understand.

Missing out on school adds up

• 80% attendance over a school year means your child misses a whole year of education over five years.
• 85% attendance means that 29 school days, nearly six weeks, or 145 lessons are missed over a year.
• 90% attendance means 19 school days, four weeks or 95 lessons are missed over a year.

Term Time Holidays 

All absence from school affects your child's education. Taking a child on holiday during term time could mean:

• your child missing out on important school work which will be difficult to catch up on
• creating more work for your child and the teachers
• it affecting other pupils' learning

The law around Term Time Holidays

The Department for Education (DFE) amended legislation surrounding holidays in term-time, which came into effect on 1 September 2013.

Parents have no entitlement to take their child on holiday in term-time. Any application for leave must only be in exceptional circumstances and the head teacher must be satisfied that the circumstances are exceptional and warrant the granting of leave. Headteachers would not be expected to class any term-time holiday as exceptional. Parents can be fined by the local authority for taking their child on holiday during term-time without consent from the school. 

Salford Local Authority's role

The financial difficulties that some parents face when booking holidays, particularly during school holidays, is understood by Salford LA. However, it is expect that all Salford schools to have firm policies and stringent checks to significantly reduce the number of authorised absences during term time.

Regular monitoring of all school absences during term time are undertaken and those schools and parents who don't follow the legislation are challenged.