St Bernard's Catholic Primary School

    1. News
    2. YOUR CHILD'S ATTENDANCE MATTERS

    YOUR CHILD'S ATTENDANCE MATTERS

    7 October 2024 (by admin)

    School attendance is ALWAYS in the national news. Every little helps when it comes to your child's school attendance.

    Children who have an AUTUMN termly attendance of above 95% will have their names in the end of term school autumn draw. PRIZES, PRIZES, PRIZES! We are holding a draw at the end of every half term this year! 6 draws in total throughout the school year!

    It is all part of the school's agenda to promote good attendance. Why 95% and above for the autumn term? We fully recognise that during the school term there can be genuine reasons for pupil absence. 

    We will also have out 100% attendance certificates to children who have been in school EVERY SINGLE DAY! Quite an AUTUMN achievement!

    We say it every week BUT your child's school attendance MATTERS! It means opportunities for life!

    GOOD ATTENDANCE habits start from a young age! 

    School works incredibly hard  informing parents of the HUGE importance for matters related to school attendance:

    *first day phone calls

    *meetings with parents (both supporting & challenging parents)

    *MCAS app correspondence (attendance stats)

    *family support worker involvement

    *school nurse involvement

    *letters from Birmingham Authority

    *Education Legal Team involvement

    *announced and unannounced home visits

    *MCAS app attendance statistics available to parents

    THE GOVERNMENT say:

    'Pupils who have missed more than 10% of school sessions are considered persistently absent' (Remember however, that your child might have a serious/complicated underlying health/medical issue that significantly impacts on their attendance. Parents would of course have medical evidence for this and would present this to the school office)

    'School is the best environment for the vast majority of pupils to learn in. Being surrounded by teachers and friends in school helps keep children safe, and supports them to reach their potential'

    'Being in school is important to your child’s academic achievement, wellbeing, and wider development.  There is evidence to suggest that regular school attendance is a key mechanism to support children and young people's educational, economic and social outcomes. Schools can facilitate positive peer relationships, which is a contributes to better mental health and wellbeing'

    The message is clear...GOOD SCHOOL ATTENDANCE MATTERS - opportunities for LIFE!