Attendance

At Hullavington CE Primary and Nursery School, we believe that regular school attendance is essential to helping every child feel happy, confident and successful. Every day in school provides valuable opportunities to learn, develop friendships, build confidence and take part in the life of our school.

We want every child to have the best possible start and to make the most of the opportunities available to them. Good attendance is a shared responsibility between school, parents and carers, and we are committed to working in partnership with families to ensure that children attend regularly and punctually.

Why Attendance Matters

Being in school regularly makes a real difference to children's learning, development and wellbeing.

• Learning: Lessons build on previous learning. Missing school can make it harder for children to keep up and develop their knowledge and skills.

• Friendships: Being in school regularly helps children develop friendships, build relationships and feel part of our school community.

• Confidence and wellbeing: Attending school helps children develop a sense of belonging, routine and confidence.

• Opportunities: Every school day provides opportunities to take part in lessons, activities, experiences and events.

• Good habits: Developing positive attendance and punctuality habits from an early age helps children build routines that will support them throughout life.

What We Ask of Parents and Carers

Parents and carers have a vital role in supporting good school attendance. We ask that you:

• Make every effort to ensure your child attends school every day and arrives on time.

• Arrange medical and dental appointments outside school hours wherever possible.

• Contact the school office as soon as possible if your child is unwell and unable to attend.

• Keep us informed about any circumstances or difficulties that may be affecting your child's attendance.

• Work with us if we raise concerns about your child's attendance.

If your child is struggling to attend school for any reason, please speak to us. We would much rather work together to identify and resolve difficulties early than allow them to become a bigger concern.

Reporting an Absence

If your child is going to be absent from school, please contact the school office as soon as possible on the first day of absence, explaining the reason for their absence.

If your child is unwell, please follow NHS guidance about when it is appropriate for them to return to school. We understand that children do become ill, and genuine illness should never be ignored.

If we do not receive an explanation for a child's absence, we will make contact with parents or carers to establish the reason. This is an important part of our safeguarding responsibilities, as we must know that every child is safe.

Punctuality Matters Too

Arriving at school on time helps children settle into the school day, feel prepared for learning and avoid missing important information and activities.

Late arrivals can disrupt learning, both for the child arriving late and for others in the classroom. We ask parents and carers to ensure that children arrive in good time and are ready to start the school day.

Term-Time Holidays and Requests for Leave of Absence

We understand that families may sometimes wish to arrange holidays or other activities during term time. However, children are expected to attend school throughout the published school year, and holidays should be arranged during school holiday periods.

Headteachers may only grant leave of absence during term time in exceptional circumstances. A family holiday is not normally considered an exceptional circumstance, and requests will not usually be authorised.

If you believe there are exceptional circumstances which require your child to be absent from school, you must complete a Leave of Absence Request Form in advance. Forms are available from the school office. Each request will be considered individually by the Headteacher, in line with statutory guidance.

Please do not assume that a request will be authorised before receiving confirmation from the school.

Unauthorised Absence and Penalty Notices

Unauthorised absence is recorded when a child is absent from school without permission or without an acceptable reason being provided.

In line with the National Framework, a penalty notice must be considered when a child has accumulated 10 sessions (equivalent to 5 school days) of unauthorised absence within a rolling 10-school-week period. These absences do not need to be consecutive and may include unauthorised holidays during term time.

Wiltshire Council may issue penalty notices in accordance with its Code of Conduct. The current national arrangements provide for a fine of £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days, increasing to £160 if paid within 28 days. A second penalty notice for the same child within a three-year period is charged at £160. Further unauthorised absence may result in alternative legal action.

We encourage parents to work with us at the earliest opportunity if attendance becomes a concern. Our priority is always to understand the reasons for absence and support families to improve attendance.

For further information, please visit Wiltshire Council – Attendance and Behaviour.

Working Together to Improve Attendance

We recognise that there can sometimes be barriers to regular school attendance. These may include illness, anxiety, family circumstances or other challenges.

If you are experiencing difficulties getting your child into school, please talk to us. We are here to listen, offer support and work with you to find positive ways forward.

Our aim is for every child to feel safe, happy and ready to learn, and to make the most of every opportunity that school provides.

Every day counts. Every child matters.

Attendance Policy

Please click the button below to access our school Attendance Policy and Term Dates for this academic year.

Attendance Policy 2026 Term Dates 26-27