Attendance

At Holy Cross, we strive for the highest possible standard of education for all pupils and recognise that this can only be achieved by supporting and promoting excellent attendance, punctuality and behaviour. This is based on the belief that only by attending school regularly and following our principles will pupils be able to take full advantage of the educational opportunities available to them. Parents and carers play a key role in ensuring primary-aged pupils attend school regularly and arrive on time. Many pupils achieve 100% attendance but there are some whose patterns of attendance cause concern.

Teachers and parents share a common goal when it comes to children. We all want the very best educational opportunities for them, and we want every single one to get the most they can out of the 190 days a year our schools are open for learning. At Holy Cross, each pupil’s attendance and punctuality is tracked daily. Where attendance or punctuality data causes a concern, parents are informed of this by letter. 

There are times when children are unable to attend school. We all become poorly from time to time, and there are also hospital appointments and funerals that happen during the school day which cannot be missed.

The Senior Leadership Team meets regularly to look at attendance bandings and cross reference these with pupils’ current progress and attainment scores. Parents will be informed if their child is falling behind academically as a result of poor attendance or punctuality. We are committed to working with our families to ensure that their children can catch up on the learning they miss on the days they are understandably absent from school.

Punctuality

It is equally as important to ensure that your child is punctual to school. This means being on time and ready for the day ahead. Being punctual allows for a great start to the day, putting your child in a positive frame of mind to make the most of the day’s learning and activities. It also shows children the importance of time management, which can be carried through their life.

Punctuality is linked to good attendance and as we know, good attenders have more opportunities and therefore achieve more! Minutes late can quickly equate to days missed. For example, if your child was 5 minutes late each morning, by the end of the academic year they would have lost 3.4 days of learning.

Behaviour

At Holy Cross, we are committed to maintaining a calm, purposeful and respectful environment where all pupils feel safe, supported and ready to learn. Clear expectations, consistent routines and strong relationships underpin our approach to behaviour, enabling pupils to develop self-discipline, responsibility and respect for others. Through this consistent approach, pupils understand what positive behaviour looks like and are supported to make responsible choices in all aspects of school life.

Our staff explicitly teach and model positive behaviours, creating classrooms where learning can take place without disruption. Pupils are encouraged to reflect on their actions, resolve difficulties appropriately and contribute positively to the school community. This helps children develop the social and emotional skills needed to build strong relationships, work collaboratively and engage fully in their learning.

Strong partnerships with parents and carers are central to our approach. By working together, we ensure that expectations remain consistent and that children receive the guidance and support they need both in school and at home. This shared commitment helps pupils develop confidence, resilience and a strong sense of belonging within the school community.

Attendance Guidance

Holidays in Term Time

Holy Cross DO NOT authorise holidays in term time.

Term time holidays have become one of the major reasons for absence from school. Contrary to popular belief, there is no entitlement to ten days off school for family holidays. What the law actually provides for is exceptional circumstances. 

It is much harder to help children recoup the learning and school experiences lost when they are taken out of school to go on term time holidays. We understand the economic pressures every family now faces, and share the frustration felt by many at having to pay more for breaks within school holiday times.

We recognise that more needs to be done by the government and the travel industry to regulate and reduce these prices but we cannot allow children's education to be put at risk because of high holiday costs.

We urge all parents and carers to work with us and book family time and breaks away during the 175 days of the year when our schools are not open for learning. This will give every child the same chance to take advantage of the rich educational and social experiences our school provides.

In August 2024, the Department for Education (DfE) updated national guidance to support parents, schools and local authorities (LAs) in improving school attendance. The guidance, Working together to improve school attendance, is statutory.

Liverpool School Attendance Service will issue fixed penalty notices in line with the DfE’s statutory guidance.

All requests for leave during term time must be made in writing to the school office. 

To avoid worrying about getting a fixed penalty notice, please make sure your child attends school where possible.

Attendance Letters

Attendance is categorised by bandings set by the Department for Education

Department For Education Attendance Bandings	Days Absent
0% - less than 5%	0 - 9 days missed
5% to less than 10%	10 - 18 days missed
10% to less than 15%	19 - 28 days missed
15% to less than 20%	29 - 38 days missed
20% to less than 25%	39 - 48 days missed
25% to less than 30%	49 - 58 days missed
30% to less than 35%	59 - 68 days missed
35% to less than 40%	69 to 78 days missed
40% to less than 45%	79 - 88 days missed
45% to less than 50%	89 + days missed
Absence greater than or equal to 50%	95 + days missed

 

Attendance Figures

The minimum attendance that is expected for the local authority is 97%

95% attendance = 10 days your child has been absent (2 weeks of school missed)

90% attendance- 19 days your child has been absent (almost four weeks of school missed)

85% attendance- 29 days your child has been absent (almost 6 weeks)

80% attendance- 38 days your child has been absent (this is over 7 weeks of school missed)

Punctuality

It is also extremely important that your child arrives on time for school each day. Even being a few minutes late disrupts their education as well as the other children in their class.

Arriving 5 minutes late to school everyday add ups to over 3 days each year

Arriving 15 minutes late to school everyday adds up to 2 weeks absence a year

Arriving 30 minutes late to school everyday equals almost 4 weeks absence a year.