Attendance
Our Commitment to Attendance and Wellbeing at Barnston Primary
Barnston Primary is a place where every child is meant to feel safe, valued, and excited to learn. Daily attendance is a key part of that. Being in school each day helps children build secure routines, strengthen friendships, and make the most of every learning opportunity. When children are with us, they are part of a community that knows them well, supports them, and celebrates their progress.
We are committed to working in partnership with families so that every child feels confident and ready to come to school each morning. When barriers arise, we want to understand them and help you overcome them—because attendance is not just a statistic to us; it is a vital part of helping your child thrive.
Working Together When Attendance Feels Difficult:
We recognise that family life can change quickly and that circumstances can sometimes make regular attendance challenging. Routines can be disrupted, unexpected events can arise, and children may go through periods where coming to school feels harder.
You are not on your own.
At Barnston, we approach attendance with understanding, not judgment. We are here to listen, problem‑solve, and offer practical support that fits your family’s needs. Whether the difficulty is short‑term or something more ongoing, we will work alongside you to remove barriers and help your child feel settled, confident, and ready to be in school each day.
Reporting Absence:
Parents must inform the school office on the morning of their child’s first day of absence.
It is the legal responsibility of parents to ensure that their children attend school regularly.
If your child’s attendance falls below 92%, you will receive a letter. This level of attendance is considered too low, even when accounting for illness or emergencies. Children should not be kept at home for minor coughs, colds, or other minor ailments unless a doctor has advised otherwise.
Medical and Dental Appointments:
If your child needs to attend a clinic, dental, doctor’s, or hospital appointment, please notify the school and provide written confirmation of the appointment.
This requirement aligns with local authority guidelines and helps us ensure accurate attendance records.
Requests for Term‑Time Leave:
No authorised absences will be granted during term time unless there are very exceptional circumstances.
Any requests must be submitted in writing to the headteacher using the form available from the school office. There is no guarantee that circumstances will be considered exceptional, and the school’s decision is final.
If parents choose to take their child out of school without authorisation, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised, and a fine will be issued by Wirral Local Authority. A pattern of unauthorised absences may lead to further investigation, and attendance information will be shared with your child’s high school.
Punctuality and the Start of the Day:
The school day begins at 8:45 am, and morning registers are taken at 9:00 am.
• Children arriving after 9:00 but before 9:30 am will be recorded as late.
• Children arriving after 9:30 am, when registration closes, will receive a U code, which counts as an absence.
For example, a child with 26 present marks and 26 U marks would have 50% attendance.
All late arrivals must be signed in at the school office by an accompanying adult.
If a child arrives unaccompanied, we will contact you and ask you to return to school to sign them in.
This procedure follows Wirral Local Authority Safeguarding Guidance and ensures every child’s safe arrival.
If your child will be late, please call the school office as soon as possible so that the class teacher and kitchen staff can be informed. 0151 3425229
For more details on the importance of regular attendance, please read the 'Attendance Policy' document available on our website.
DfE - Working Together to Improve Attendance
NHS - Is my child to ill for school?
School Attendance - Parent Guide
