Attendance and Punctuality

At St Michael Catholic Primary and Nursery School, every child is a valued member of our community. Being in school regularly helps children build friendships, grow in confidence and benefit fully from the learning and experiences we offer.We work closely with parents and carers to encourage good attendance and punctuality, recognising that some children and families need additional support.

Reporting an Absence

If your child cannot attend school, please contact us by 9:00am on the first day of absence, or as soon as possible.

Telephone: 01634 832578
Attendance email: attendance@st-michaels.medway.sch.uk

Please provide your child’s full name, class and the reason for their absence. Keep us informed if their absence continues or their expected return date changes.

If your child is absent and we have not heard from you, we will contact you to establish the reason and check that your child is safe.

Arriving on Time

A calm, timely start helps children settle into their day and feel ready to learn.

• 8:30–8:55am: Children arrive and go into class. Early morning interventions take place during this time.

• 9:00am: Start of the school day.

• 3:30pm: End of the school day.

Please allow enough time for your child to arrive and settle before school begins. If you arrive late, please report to the school office so your child’s arrival can be recorded.

Is My Child Well Enough for School?

We understand that deciding whether your child is well enough for school can sometimes be difficult.

Children with a mild cough or cold can usually attend if they are otherwise well and do not have a high temperature. Children with a high temperature should stay at home until it has gone.

For advice about common childhood illnesses and when children should stay at home, please visit:

NHS: Is my child too ill for school?

Please tell us about any medical condition or ongoing health concern affecting your child’s attendance so we can discuss appropriate support.

Medical and Dental Appointments

Please arrange appointments outside school hours wherever possible. When this is unavoidable, let us know in advance by emailing attendance@st-michaels.medway.sch.uk.

Children should attend school before or after their appointment where possible, missing only the time necessary.

Requesting Leave During Term Time

Please speak to the school office about requesting leave. Requests should be made as early as possible and, where possible, at least four weeks in advance.

The Headteacher considers each request individually. Holidays are generally not considered exceptional circumstances, and submitting a request does not mean permission has been granted.

Unauthorised term-time absence can result in a penalty notice or other legal action.

View our term dates before making travel arrangements

Support with Attendance

If getting your child into school is becoming difficult, please talk to us early.

Children may experience barriers linked to anxiety, friendships, medical needs, special educational needs or changes in family circumstances. We will listen to your concerns and work with you to understand what is happening and identify helpful next steps.

You can speak to:

• Mrs Foster, Attendance Officer, for attendance queries and support.

• Mrs Ann Fredericks, Pastoral Manager and Home–School Support Worker, for pastoral and family support.

• Your child’s class teacher, about concerns affecting their experience of school.

Please contact the school office to arrange a conversation. Where appropriate, we will also involve our SENDCo or other services.

Explore our pastoral support

Working Together to Support Attendance

We recognise that some children and families may need additional support with attendance. We work in partnership with parents and carers to understand any difficulties, remove barriers and help children feel happy, safe and ready to learn.

To support families, we:

• Make contact early if attendance begins to decline and keep parents informed about the number of days and sessions missed.

• Invite parents to attendance support meetings, where appropriate, to agree practical actions and review progress together.

• Discuss attendance at Parent Consultation Evenings, alongside children’s learning and wellbeing.

• Offer individual support, such as arranging for a familiar member of staff to meet a child at the school gate.

• Use Pupil Premium Grant funding, where appropriate, to support eligible children at risk of persistent absence.

• Work with the Local Authority’s Attendance Advisory Service, drawing on additional advice and support to improve attendance.

Parents and carers can help by establishing regular bedtime and morning routines, preparing school belongings the evening before and talking positively about the school day.

Please speak to us as soon as anything makes attending school difficult for your child. Keeping in touch allows us to work together and offer support before difficulties become more established.

Although nursery children are below compulsory school age, we expect all children to attend their agreed sessions regularly and punctually. Consistent attendance helps children build routines, develop friendships and make the most of their early learning. Please inform us whenever your child cannot attend and speak to us if you need support with attendance.

Celebrating and Promoting Good Attendance

We celebrate good attendance through weekly class Attendance Shields, termly certificates for children achieving 100% attendance and congratulatory emails for those achieving 96% or above. Children with 100% attendance are entered into a draw to win a £20 voucher, with £10 vouchers also available to eligible children in KS1 and KS2 achieving 96% or above. Children who achieve 100% attendance across the academic year receive an attendance badge at our end-of-year Achievement Assembly. We celebrate achievements in assemblies, share attendance results in our weekly newsletter and display them on the noticeboard at the school entrance. Our Breakfast Club, available from 7:30am, also supports families with a positive, punctual start to the school day.

Attendance Policy and Further Information

Our attendance policy explains our expectations, how absence is recorded and the steps we take to support families.

Read our Attendance Policy

Government guidance for parents: School attendance and absence