Attendance

At Brackley Church of England Junior School, we believe that every school day matters. Regular attendance helps children make progress in their learning, build friendships, develop confidence and feel part of our school community.

We aim for all children to achieve at least 95% attendance, while recognising that illness, medical needs and other circumstances can sometimes make attending school difficult.

We work closely with families to encourage good attendance and provide support when it is needed.

Reporting your child's absence

If your child is unable to attend school, please let us know before 9:00am on each day of absence.

You can contact the school office by:

• Telephone: 01280 707060

• Email: office@brackleyjunior.northants.sch.uk

Please tell us your child's name, class and the reason for their absence.

If we have not heard from you, our office team will contact you to check that your child is safe and establish the reason for their absence.

When should my child stay off school?

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

Children can usually attend school with mild symptoms, such as a runny nose or slight cough, provided they are otherwise feeling well and do not have a high temperature.

However, there are some occasions when children should remain at home:

• Sickness or diarrhoea: Children must stay off school until at least 48 hours after their last episode of vomiting or diarrhoea.

• High temperature: Children should remain at home until their temperature has returned to normal and they feel well enough to attend.

• Other infectious illnesses: Some illnesses, such as chickenpox or scarlet fever, have specific guidance about when children can return.

The NHS has produced a helpful guide explaining when children should and should not attend school.

NHS – Is my child too ill for school?

You can also check the government's guidance for specific infectious illnesses:

How long should you keep your child off school?

Arriving at school on time

Being punctual helps children settle into their morning routines and ensures they do not miss important learning.

• 8:30am: Children can arrive and go directly into their classrooms.

• 8:40am: The school day begins and children should be in class, ready to learn.

If your child arrives after 8:40am, please bring them through the main school office so their arrival can be recorded.

Regular lateness can affect both learning and confidence. If getting to school on time is becoming difficult, please speak to us so that we can help.

Understanding attendance percentages

Even a few days of absence can make a difference over a school year.

Attendance	Days missed in a school year
100%	0 days
95%	Approximately 10 days
90%	Approximately 19 days
85%	Approximately 29 days
80%	Approximately 38 days

These figures are based on a typical 190-day school year.

Attendance below 90% is classed nationally as persistent absence. We monitor attendance regularly and will contact families if we notice concerns or patterns of absence.

We recognise that every child's circumstances are different, and our approach is always to understand the reasons for absence and offer appropriate support.

Medical and dental appointments

Where possible, please arrange routine medical and dental appointments outside school hours.

If an appointment must take place during the school day, please inform the office in advance. Children should attend school before or after their appointment wherever possible, rather than missing the whole day.

We may ask for confirmation of an appointment where appropriate.

Holidays and leave during term time

Schools are not normally permitted to authorise holidays during term time.

Under government regulations, leave of absence can only be granted in exceptional circumstances, at the Headteacher's discretion.

If you need to request leave during term time, please complete a Leave of Absence Request Form and submit it to the school in advance.

Unauthorised absence may result in a penalty notice or further action by the Local Authority.

We strongly encourage families to arrange holidays and other planned activities during the school holidays.

What if my child is finding it difficult to attend school?

We understand that some children experience additional challenges with attendance. These may include anxiety, special educational needs, medical conditions, friendship difficulties or changes in family circumstances.

If your child is struggling to come to school, please speak to us as early as possible.

We will listen to your concerns, work with you to understand any barriers and explore practical ways to help your child feel happy, safe and confident in school.

Depending on your child's needs, support might include adjustments to school routines, pastoral support or a personalised attendance plan.

Our priority is to work together to help every child access their education.

Further information

For more detailed information about our approach to attendance, including authorised and unauthorised absence, punctuality and the support available to families, please see our Attendance and Term Time Leave Policy on our policy page.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child's attendance, please contact the school office. We are always happy to help.