Attendance

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Nelson Mandela

Regular attendance and punctuality are fundamental to a child’s success at school. Every day counts — missing school means missed learning, lost friendships, and missed opportunities for growth, both academically and socially. At St Sebastian’s, we are committed to working with families to ensure children are present, on time and ready to learn, because good attendance lays the foundation for a happy, successful future.

Research and national guidance emphasise that:

“Good attendance is a learned behaviour, and the most effective schools recognise the importance of developing good patterns of attendance.... Parents and carers have a legal duty to ensure their child receives a full-time education.” (OFSTED, 2022)

By working together, we can ensure that every child benefits from the full range of learning opportunities, develops strong friendships and thrives in a supportive school environment.

ATTENDANCE TO DATE

Each class’s attendance percentage is monitored daily and reports are shared weekly, allowing pupils, parents and staff to see how well each class is doing in meeting our attendance expectations.

Please see table below:

2026 - 2027 ATTENDANCE TO DATE: 16.10.2026
Reception	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6	Whole
93.9%	95.5%	98.4%	93.3%	95.1%	96.6%	96.1%	95.5%

ATTENDANCE TEAM

Role & Responsibility	Staff Member
Designated Attendance Lead (DAL) \| Headteacher	Mrs J McCormick
Attendance Officer	Ms C Williams
Pastoral Lead	Ms K Mello

ATTENDANCE & PUNCTUATION POLICY

St Sebastian's - Attendance & Punctuality Policy - 2026 - 2027

PDF File

ATTENDANCE & PUNCTUALITY - FAQs

What should I do if my child is absent?

Phone the school before 9:15am to let us know your child will be off and the reason for absence.
For appointments during the day, show the appointment letter or card and ensure your child attends before and/or after the appointment.
If you do not contact the school, we will try to reach you, which may include a home visit.
Absences without a valid reason are marked as unauthorised.

What does the school do if my child is absent?

Staff check daily who is absent and follow standard safeguarding procedures.
If school has not been informed, we will phone and may carry out a home-visit to find out why your child is absent.
For absences longer than 48hrs, school will carry out home-visits to check on your child’s wellbeing.
All absences are recorded; absence without reason is unauthorised.

Can I take my child on holiday during school time?

The Governing Body has directed that no holidays during term-time will be authorised. This ensures we prioritise learning and helps the school reach the national attendance target of 97%.
Parents | carers who take children on holiday during term-time will receive a Fixed Penalty Notice from the local council (Liverpool | Knowsley | Sefton).
This includes holidays to a country of origin or trips abroad; these should be planned during school holidays.
If exceptional circumstances apply, parents | carers must speak to the school office for guidance before making arrangements. Absence from school will still not be authorised.

How are absences counted?

The school day is split into two sessions: morning and afternoon.
Missing the morning = 1 session absent; missing the full day = 2 sessions absent.

What are authorised absences?

Absences approved by the school include:

Illness severe enough to prevent attendance
Part-day absence for essential medical appointments (medical appointment letter required - routine check-ups should be outside school time)

What are unauthorised absences?

Absences not approved by the school include:

Whole-day absence for routine medical appointments
Minor illness unless supported by a medical note
Holidays during term-time
Birthdays or day trips
Being tired or shopping
Arrival after registration closes (counts as a session absence)

What happens if my child is persistently absent?

Persistent absenteeism is attendance below 90% (approx. 19 days missed per year).
Monitored every half term, including sessions missed, regardless of reason.
Persistent absence may result in Fixed Penalty Notices or legal action.

How should I manage medical appointments?

Try to schedule outside school hours where possible.
If unavoidable, bring your child before and after the appointment.
Avoid routine appointments during the day to minimise lost learning time.

Why is good attendance important?

Regular attendance gives children the best chance to learn, socialise, and participate in school life.
Early years attendance lays the foundation for future learning, and every year builds on this knowledge.
Being present helps children develop confidence, resilience and friendships.

How does attendance percentage translate to days absent?

Attendance	Days in School	Days Absent
100%	190	0
97%	184	6
95%	180	10
90%	171	19
85%	161	29
80%	152	39
75%	141	49
70%	132	58

Tips for good attendance and punctuality

Bedtime: Ensure children get enough sleep to wake up ready to learn.
Be on time: Helps children settle and maintain routines.
Get up early: Avoid rushing and stress in the morning.
Limit TV or games: Reduces delays and morning arguments.
Prepare the night before: Uniforms, lunches, and bags ready.
Breakfast: Eat before school or attend Breakfast Club (opens 8:00am).

ILLNESS | INFECTION - RECOMMENDED ABSENCE PERIOD

This list of recommended absence periods for preventing the spread of infection is taken from non-statutory guidance for school | daycares and other childcare settings from the UK Health Security Agency. For each of these infections or complaints, there is further information in the guidance on the symptoms, how it spreads and some ‘dos and don’ts’ to follow that you can check.

In confirmed cases of infectious disease, including COVID-19, we will follow the recommended self-isolation period based on government guidance.

Infection	Recommended Period to be kept away from Daycare \| Nursery \| School
Athlete’s foot	None
Bacillary Dysentery (Shigella) Microbiological	Clearance is required for some types of shigella species prior to the child or food handler returning to school \| daycare.
Campylobacter	Until 48 hours after symptoms have stopped.
Chicken pox (shingles)	Cases of chickenpox are generally infectious from 2 days before the rash appears to 5 days after the onset of rash. Although the usual exclusion period is 5 days, all lesions should be crusted over before children return to nursery or school \| daycare. A person with shingles is infectious to those who have not had chickenpox and should be excluded from school \| daycare if the rash is weeping and cannot be covered or until the rash is dry and crusted over.
Cold Sores	None
Conjunctivitis	None
Cryptosporidiosis	Until 48 hours after symptoms have stopped.
Diarrhoea and/or vomiting (Gastroenteritis)	Children and adults with diarrhoea or vomiting should be excluded until 48 hours after symptoms have stopped and they are well enough to return. If medication is prescribed, ensure that the full course is completed and there is no further diarrhoea or vomiting for 48 hours after the course is completed. For some gastrointestinal infections, longer periods of exclusion from school \| daycare are required and there may be a need to obtain microbiological clearance. For these groups, your local health protection team, school \| daycare health adviser or environmental health officer will advise. If a child has been diagnosed with cryptosporidium, they should NOT go swimming for 2 weeks following the last episode of diarrhoea.
E. coli (verocytotoxigenic or VTEC)	The standard exclusion period is until 48 hours after symptoms have resolved. However, some people pose a greater risk to others and may be excluded until they have a negative stool sample (for example, pre-school \| daycare infants, food handlers, and care staff working with vulnerable people). The health protection team will advise in these instances.
Flu (influenza)	Until recovered.
Food Poisoning	Until 48 hours from the last episode of vomiting and diarrhoea and they are well enough to return. Some infections may require longer periods (local health protection team will advise).
Giardia	Until 48 hours after symptoms have stopped.
Glandular fever	None (can return once they feel well).
Hand, foot and mouth	Children are safe to return to school \| daycare or nursery as soon as they are feeling better. There is no need to stay off until the blisters have all healed.
Head lice	None
Hepatitis A	Exclude cases from school \| daycare while unwell or until 7 days after the onset of jaundice (or onset of symptoms if no jaundice, or if under 5, or where hygiene is poor. There is no need to exclude well, older children with good hygiene who will have been much more infectious prior to diagnosis.
Hepatitis B	Acute cases of hepatitis B will be too ill to attend school \| daycare and their doctors will advise when they can return. Do not exclude chronic cases of hepatitis B or restrict their activities. Similarly, do not exclude staff with chronic hepatitis B infection. Contact your local health protection team for more advice if required.
Hepatitis C	None
Impetigo	Until lesions are crusted and healed, or 48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment.
Measles	Cases are infectious from 4 days before onset of rash to 4 days after, so it is important to ensure cases are excluded from school \| daycare during this period.
Meningococcal meningitis/ septicaemia	If the child has been treated and has recovered, they can return to school \| daycare.
Meningitis	Once the child has been treated (if necessary) and has recovered, they can return to school \| daycare. No exclusion is needed.
Meningitis viral	None
MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus)	None.
Mumps	5 days after onset of swelling (if well).
Respiratory infections including coronavirus (COVID-19)	Children and young people should not attend if they have a high temperature and are unwell. Anyone with a positive test result for COVID-19 should not attend the setting for 3 days after the day of the test.
Ringworm	Exclusion not needed once treatment has started.
Rotavirus	Until 48 hours after symptoms have subsided.
Rubella (German measles)	5 days from the appearance of the rash.
Salmonella	Until 48 hours after symptoms have stopped.
Scabies	The infected child or staff member should be excluded until after the first treatment has been carried out.
Scarlet Fever	Children can return to school \| daycare 24 hours after commencing appropriate antibiotic treatment. If no antibiotics have been administered, the person will be infectious for 2 to 3 weeks. If there is an outbreak of scarlet fever at the school \| daycare or nursery, the health protection team will assist with letters and a factsheet to send to parents or carers and staff.
Slapped cheek syndrome, Parvovirus B19, Fifth’s disease	None (not infectious by the time the rash has developed).
Thread worm	None
Tuberculosis (TB)	Pupils and staff with infectious TB can return to school \| daycare after 2 weeks of treatment if well enough to do so and as long as they have responded to anti-TB therapy. Pupils and staff with non-pulmonary TB do not require exclusion and can return to school \| daycare as soon as they are well enough.
Typhoid and Paratyphoid fever	Seek advice from environmental health officers or the local health protection team.
Whooping cough (pertussis)	A child or staff member should not return to school \| daycare until they have had 48 hours of appropriate treatment with antibiotics and they feel well enough to do so, or 21 days from onset of illness if no antibiotic treatment.