At Stanwix School, we place great importance on excellent attendance and punctuality.

We know that regular attendance has a direct impact on a child's learning, wellbeing and achievement. Children who are frequently absent or regularly arrive late can miss valuable learning opportunities, making it more difficult to keep up and may not reach their full potential. We ask parents and carers to support us by ensuring that children attend school every day whenever possible and arrive on time, ready to learn.

Children should arrive at school at 8:50am

If Your Child Is Absent

If your child is unable to attend school due to illness, please notify us on parentsapp, using the absence notification form, or call the school office on 01228 596069 before the start of the school day and provide:

• Your child's full name
• Class name
• Reason for absence (including details of any illness)
• Expected return date

You can speak to a member of the the office team, or leave a voicemail. 

If your child is absent for more than one day, parents and carers should continue to inform the school on each day of absence unless otherwise agreed.

Where no explanation for absence is received, the school will follow its safeguarding procedures, which may include telephone calls, emails and, where necessary, a home visit.

Punctuality

The school day starts at 8:50am

Arriving at school on time helps children settle quickly and ensures they do not miss important learning at the start of the day.

School gates and doors open before the start of the school day, and children should arrive promptly so they are ready to begin learning with their class.

Children who arrive after the start of the school day must report through the main entrance and be signed in by a parent or carer. Late arrivals are recorded in accordance with school attendance procedures.

Where punctuality becomes a concern, parents and carers may be invited to meet with school staff to discuss ways to improve arrival times.

For further information about attendance and punctuality at Stanwix School, please refer to the school's Attendance Policy.

Meet Our Attendance Team

At Stanwix School, our Attendance Lead is Miss Edminson, supported by Mrs Watson, our Pastoral Coordinator. Miss Edminson and Mrs Watson work closely with pupils, families and staff to promote excellent attendance and punctuality across the school. They monitor attendance patterns, provide support to families where attendance may be a concern, and work with parents and carers to overcome any barriers that may affect a child's ability to attend school regularly. At Stanwix, we are committed to ensuring that every child has the best possible opportunity to succeed by attending school every day, arriving on time and making the most of their learning. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child's attendance, Miss Edminson or Mrs Watson will be happy to offer support and guidance.

 

Types of Absence

Every half-day absence from school must, by law, be classified as either authorised or unauthorised. This is why parents and carers are always asked to provide a reason when a child is absent.

Authorised Absence

An authorised absence is when a child is absent for a valid reason, such as:

• Illness
• Emergency medical or dental appointments
• Exceptional circumstances approved by the school

Unauthorised Absence

An absence is classified as unauthorised when the reason given is not considered acceptable under Department for Education guidance.

Examples include:

• Birthdays
• Shopping trips
• Day trips
• Holidays during term time

Appointments and requesting time off

For further information on appointments and requesting leave during term time, please see visit the Appointments section on this website.

Leave During Term Time

Schools are only permitted to authorise leave of absence in exceptional circumstances.

Family holidays taken during term time are not normally considered exceptional circumstances and therefore cannot usually be authorised.

Requests for leave must be submitted in advance using the online form on ParentsApp or by completing the form below and submitting this to the school office. Paper copies are also available from the office. Each application will be considered individually based on the information provided.

Parents may be issued with a penalty notice if their child is taken out of school without authorisation.

While we understand the challenges families can face when arranging holidays, regular school attendance is essential in helping children achieve their full potential and benefit from every learning opportunity.

Attendance Monitoring

Because attendance is so important, we closely monitor attendance and punctuality throughout the year.

Where attendance falls below expected levels, the school may:

• Contact parents to discuss concerns
• Monitor attendance more closely
• Arrange meetings with families
• Develop support plans to improve attendance

Where attendance continues to be a concern and absences remain unauthorised, the school may seek support from the Local Authority. This could lead to formal intervention, including penalty notices or other legal action where appropriate.