--- title: "Attendance" url: "https://www.dovebank.staffs.sch.uk/attendance" school: "Dove Bank Primary School" --- # Attendance ## Attendance Our Senior Attendance Champion (the senior leader responsible for the strategic approach to attendance in our school) is: Sally Dakin At Dove Bank Primary School we are proud to be part of a Trust that places high value on excellent attendance. It is not just a school expectation—it is a Trust-wide commitment that every pupil attends school regularly to maximise their learning and development. **Attendance Target for 2026/2027** The Trust’s attendance target for all pupils is 96% across the academic year. This equates to no more than 7 days of absence per year. This target aligns with the Government’s national expectation and reflects our shared belief that consistent attendance is essential for academic success and personal growth. **Why Attendance Matters** Regular attendance ensures that children do not miss vital learning opportunities, especially in core subjects such as reading, writing and maths. Evidence shows that children with good attendance are more likely to achieve their full potential. We ask parents and carers to support us by avoiding holidays during term time, as these can significantly disrupt a child’s progress. **Understanding Attendance Percentages** ![](https://www.dovebank.staffs.sch.uk/images/attendance(1).jpg) **What could happen if attendance drops below 96%?** ![](https://www.dovebank.staffs.sch.uk/images/03b579f4b4f5302c8f821f0417e47e80.png) **How to Report an Absence** Please contact the Office by 9.30am on each day of absence. **Telephone:** We require the following information: - Your child’s name and year group/class - The reason for absence - The expected date of return **Lateness to School** **Arriving Late** Pupils who arrive after 8.50am are considered late and this will be recorded on the register. We expect punctuality from all pupils. Being “just a little bit late” every day has a significant impact on learning time over the course of a school year. Being late to school on a regular basis quickly adds up to a significant loss of learning time. | **“They only missed just…”** | **That equals…** | **Which is…** | **And over a school career…** | |---|---|---|---| | 10 minutes per day | 50 minutes per week | Nearly 1.5 weeks per year | Nearly 0.5 school years | | 20 minutes per day | 1 hour 40 minutes per week | Over 2.5 weeks per year | Nearly 1 school year | | 30 minutes per day | Half a day per week | 4 weeks per year | Nearly 1.5 school years | | 1 hour per day | 1 day per week | 8 weeks per year | Over 2.5 school years | **Absence During Term Time** The Headteacher will only authorise absences in exceptional circumstances. You will be informed whether the absence is authorised or not. Unauthorised absences can have serious consequences. We urge all families to follow the correct procedures and prioritise school attendance. **Penalty Notices and Legal Responsibilities** Under the Education Act (1996), parents are legally required to ensure their child attends school regularly. If a child has 10 consecutive sessions (equivalent to 5 full school days) of unauthorised absence, parents may be issued with a Penalty Notice. Initial Penalty Notice: £160 per parent, per child (reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days). Failure to Pay: May result in prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000. From August 2024, if a second penalty notice is issued within a 3-year rolling period, the fine will remain at £160 with no discount. A maximum of two penalty notices may be issued per parent, per child in that period. Further offences may lead to legal action by the Local Authority. We appreciate your continued support in ensuring your child attends school every day. Together, we can give every child the best possible start in life. ![](https://www.dovebank.staffs.sch.uk/images/IMG_1256.PNG) **Little Heroes** [![](https://www.dovebank.staffs.sch.uk/images/Attendence_hero_image.png)](https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Education/Education-welfare/Little-Heroes-Campaign-Toolkit.aspx) We work alongside Staffordshire County Council to improve the attendance of pupils in our school. The 'Little Heroes' campaign has been set up as a fun, motivational and engaging initiative to boost the attendance of pupils in school. Our attendance officer, Mrs Chesters, works alongside families to support them in breaking down barriers and get the children in school, every day, on time. Attendance Policy 384 KB [Open for printing](https://files.schudio.com/dove-bank-primary-school/files/documents/Attendance-Policy-DB_2025_(new).pdf) ### Our School - [Headteacher's Welcome](https://www.dovebank.staffs.sch.uk/headteacher-s-welcome) - [Our Vision & Values](https://www.dovebank.staffs.sch.uk/our-vision-values) - [Sustainability](https://www.dovebank.staffs.sch.uk/our-vision-values/sustainability) - [Our Staff](https://www.dovebank.staffs.sch.uk/our-staff) - [Safeguarding](https://www.dovebank.staffs.sch.uk/safeguarding) - [Policies](https://www.dovebank.staffs.sch.uk/policies) - [Pupil Premium](https://www.dovebank.staffs.sch.uk/pupil-premium) - [SEND](https://www.dovebank.staffs.sch.uk/send) - [Attendance](https://www.dovebank.staffs.sch.uk/attendance) - [Mental Health](https://www.dovebank.staffs.sch.uk/mental-health) - [Ofsted](https://www.dovebank.staffs.sch.uk/ofsted) - [School Performance & Results](https://www.dovebank.staffs.sch.uk/school-performance-results) - [Local Governing Board](https://www.dovebank.staffs.sch.uk/local-governing-board) - [Trust Status](https://www.dovebank.staffs.sch.uk/trust-status) - [Current Vacancies](https://mynewterm.com/school/Dove-Bank-Primary-School/150051) [![](https://files.schudio.com/dove-bank-primary-school/images/logo/Dovebank_Logo_white_out.png)](https://tlptrust.com/) **Dove Bank Primary School** Rutland Road Kidsgrove ST7 4AP Tel: 01782 898015 Email: office@dovebank.staffs.sch.uk Headteacher – Sally Dakin SEND Coordinator - Greer Amison Safeguarding Lead - Sally Dakin ![The Learning Partnership](https://files.schudio.com/dove-bank-primary-school/images/logo/TLP_logo_for_footer.png) The Learning Partnership is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. 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