Attendance Policy

Farsley Springbank Primary School is committed to providing a broad, balanced and ambitious education for every child. Regular attendance is critical to enabling pupils to thrive academically, socially and emotionally, and to be the best they can be.

There is a strong and well-evidenced link between good attendance and improved attainment. Pupils who attend consistently access the full curriculum, make better progress over time, and adapt more successfully to routines, learning and friendship groups.

We believe that regular attendance enables children to:

• fully access the curriculum
• build positive relationships and develop social skills that prepare them for their next phase of education
• develop self-esteem, a sense of worth and a sense of belonging
• develop a positive attitude to school and the world of work, including the importance of punctuality and reliability
• remain safe from harm and benefit from safeguarding oversight

We adopt a whole-school approach to promoting attendance and are committed to working in partnership with parents/carers, pupils and external agencies to understand barriers and to implement supportive and effective solutions.

This attendance policy forms part of our broader safeguarding framework and should be read alongside:

• Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy
• Behaviour principles and Relational Policy
• Anti-Bullying Policy
• Online Safety Policy
• SEND and Inclusion Policy

AIMS OF THIS POLICY

At Farsley Springbank Primary School, our aim is to support every pupil to attend regularly and punctually so they can thrive academically, socially and emotionally.

We aim to:

• Take appropriate and timely action to safeguard and promote children’s welfare, recognising that attendance is a central safeguarding function.
• Ensure all staff understand their responsibilities for attendance, including its direct relationship with safeguarding, wellbeing and educational outcomes.
• Promote an inclusive, supportive culture in which attendance and punctuality are valued by the whole school community, reflecting our ethos of Courageous, Kind, Curious.
• Work in partnership with parents, carers, and pupils to develop positive routines, address barriers early, and maintain open communication between home and school.
• Recognise and celebrate positive attendance and punctuality, encouraging children to develop lifelong habits that support success.
• Maintain clear, efficient systems for monitoring, reporting and managing attendance and punctuality, ensuring leaders are able to intervene promptly and appropriately.
• Keep attendance high profile across the school, reinforcing the understanding that regular attendance helps children access the curriculum, build friendships, develop resilience and remain safe.

Farsley Springbank recognises that promoting good attendance is a shared responsibility. We strive to make school a happy, safe and rewarding experience, enabling every child to enjoy and fully engage in their primary education.