Why coming to school every day matters

Builds Good Habits
Coming to school on time helps children learn routines, responsibility and commitment — skills they’ll use as they grow.

Helps Learning
Being in school every day means children don’t miss important lessons. Fewer gaps = better progress.

Supports Friendships
School helps children play, share and work with others. Regular attendance strengthens friendships and builds confidence.

Develops New Skills
Children take part in exciting activities — art, music, science, outdoor learning and more — helping them be creative and curious.

Builds Resilience
By joining in every day, children learn to keep going, solve problems and support each other.


Attendance Matters

What's your child's Attendance? Are they missing out?

90%= missing half a day a week
       = missing 100 lessons a year
       = missing over a year of education in their school life

80%= missing 1 day a week
       = missing nearly 200 lessons a year
       = missing over 2 years of education in their school life

70%= missing 1.5 days a week
       = missing nearly 300 lessons a year
       = missing over 3 years of education in their school life


Please help your child reach their full potential by sending your child to School everyday.

Our attendance policy can be found on our policies page.


Unsure if you child is too unwell for school? Please refer to: Is my child too ill for school? - NHS


What are parents expected to do:

  • Make sure their child attends school every day and on time
  • Sign their child into the school at the main school office if they arrive after their entrance closes at 9:00am
  • Call the school office to report their child’s absence before 8:30am on the day of the absence and each subsequent day of absence and advise when they are expected to return
  • Provide the school with more than 1 emergency contact number for their child and update any contact details when changes are made
  • Ensure that appointments are made outside the school day
  • Provide any evidence of appointments taken during the school day
  • Inform school staff of any planned absences in advance e.g. completing the term time leave form
  • Keep to any attendance contracts made with the school and/or local authority
  • Seek support from key school staff

Attendance Stages

Southey Green Primary is a school where every child belongs.

We create a welcoming environment allowing all children to gain a sense of belonging and achieve well through excellent school attendance.

School will reward good attendance every term.

This could indicate a concerning level of child absence.

Stage one letter and meeting invite sent to parents.

Early intervention will be actioned if needed, as a preventative measure and external services may be offered to parents.

Attendance will be monitored.

Serious concerns regarding attendance.

Stage 2 letter and meeting invite sent to parents scheduled with the headteacher.

Within the meeting we will explore the barriers to learning and implement support to remove them.

Attendance will be monitored; if further decreases the school will liaise with the local authority.

Attendance will be reviewed after the monitoring period; if a child has improved, school will continue to monitor and support until the child has achieved a satisfactory attendance figure.

If there has been no improvement or attendance has continued to decrease, a stage 3 letter and meeting invite will be issued. This meeting will be between parent, school and the local authority where an attendance contract may be considered. Internal and external support will continue within reason.

Attendance will be reviewed after the monitoring period; if a child has improved, school will continue to monitor and support until the child has achieved a satisfactory attendance figure.

If there has been no further improvement or attendance has decreased further, school will review the attendance contract and inform parents of the contract failing. School will also review support offered in the contract.

All avenues have now been exhausted and support is not working or being engaged with. The school will now send a formal referral to Sheffield Attendance and Inclusion social work qualified for further intervention in line with the working together to improve school attendance document.

Attendance Diamond

Sheffield Local Authority Term Time Guidance 2024/2025

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Sheffield Local Authority Term Time Guidance 2024/2025

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Summer 1

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Attendance Newsletters

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128 KB
152 KB
158 KB

Statutory Attendance Guidance

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158 KB