Attendance Matters At Coppice Primary School

At Coppice Primary School, we believe that regular attendance is essential for children’s learning, development including their happiness and wellbeing. We work closely with families to ensure every child has the best opportunity to succeed and reach their full potential.

Our school attendance target is 97%, and achieving this is a shared responsibility between home and school. We keep parents informed of their child’s attendance through up to date attendance information on My Child At School (MCAS) app so we can work together to support good attendance for all.

School gates open at 8:35am, with school starting at 8:40am. The main gates will be closed at 8:50, after this time, all children will need to report to the main office to be signed in late. A member of SLT is always available at these times to support parents and pupils.

Punctuality is an important start to the day. We start teaching from 9:00am, every minute really does count!

Why School Attendance Matters

• Regular school attendance is essential for children’s learning, development and future success.
• Better learning and achievement: Children who attend school every day are more likely to keep up with lessons, do well in assessments and achieve their full potential.
• Building knowledge and skills: Every school day counts. Missing school means missing important learning that is difficult to replace.
• Social development: School helps children build friendships, confidence and vital social skills by learning alongside their peers.
• Routine and responsibility: Attending school every day helps children develop good routines, punctuality and responsibility for the future.
• Stronger teacher support: Regular attendance allows teachers to know children well, offer personalised support and address any gaps in learning early.
• Avoiding learning gaps: Frequent absence can make it harder for children to catch up, leading to ongoing difficulties with learning.
• Wider opportunities: Children who attend regularly are more likely to take part in clubs, sports and enrichment activities.
• Parents and carers have a legal responsibility to ensure their child attends school every day the school is open, unless their child is too unwell to attend. When this happens, it is important to inform the school promptly so absences can be recorded correctly. The school, via the local authority, will fine parents for the unauthorised absence of their child from school, where the child is of compulsory school age.
• Our Attendance Officer, Mrs Barker, is available to support families and offer guidance if there are any concerns or challenges around attendance. We are always here to help.