Attendance and Absence 

School Attendance

At Checkendon CE (A) Primary School, we make attendance a top priority. Regular school attendance is essential for your child to reach their full potential, engage fully with the curriculum, and thrive socially and academically. Our expectation is that all pupils achieve attendance of 98% or above.

What Does the Law Say?

The law is clear: every child is entitled to a full-time, efficient education, and it is the legal responsibility of every parent to ensure their child attends school regularly. The Department for Education (DfE) guidance (September 2022) states:

“Where parents decide to have their child registered at a school, they have an additional legal duty to ensure their child attends that school regularly. That means they must attend every day that school is open, except in a small number of allowable circumstances, such as being too ill to attend or being given permission for an absence in advance by the school.”

Absence Requests

Permission for absence during term time will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. The Headteacher, in conjunction with Oxfordshire County Council Attendance Officers, determines what qualifies as exceptional.

Examples of circumstances that are NOT considered exceptional include:

• Cheap holidays or pre-booked holidays/flights

• Visiting relatives or having visitors

• Birthdays, days out or shopping trips

• Absence that coincides with the start of term or other important school events

Unauthorised Absence

Taking your child out of school without authorisation (except when unwell) may lead to legal action if attendance falls below 96%. Possible consequences include:

• Parenting agreements

• Warning letters

• Fixed penalty notices

• Parenting orders, education supervision orders, or school attendance orders for repeated unauthorised absence

Why Attendance Matters

Missing just two weeks of school can significantly impact your child’s education. Research consistently shows that pupils with the highest attainment at the end of Key Stage Two and Key Stage Four have excellent attendance. With 175 non-school days each year, there is ample time for family activities, holidays, and appointments outside term time.

Requesting Leave

If term-time leave is unavoidable, please complete an Absence Request Form (available from the school office or below, on our website) as early as possible. Requests are retained in your child’s records.

Contact Us

If you have concerns or wish to discuss your child’s attendance, please contact the school office at: office.3801@checkendon.oxon.sch.uk.

Please help your child make the most of every day of their education. Regular attendance is vital for their success.

Attendance 2024/2025