Monitoring Attendance at Grosvenor Park

At Grosvenor Park Primary School, we take attendance seriously—because every day in school matters.

Children’s attendance is regularly monitored by the school, the Local Education Authority, and OFSTED. We expect all pupils to maintain an attendance rate of at least 95%, and we keep parents informed by sending home registration certificates throughout the year.

Unusual Absences

If a child’s attendance pattern raises concern, the Pupil Attendance Support Team (on behalf of the Local Authority) may investigate. Parents who do not ensure their child attends school regularly may face legal consequences, including fines or, in extreme cases, prosecution.

We want to avoid this at all costs—and we know you do too.

Let’s Work Together

If there are any issues affecting your child’s ability to attend school, please talk to us. Whether it’s a short-term challenge or something more complex, we’re here to help. Together, we can find solutions that support your child’s wellbeing and ensure they don’t miss out on valuable learning.

Every School Day Counts

At Grosvenor Park Primary School, we believe that every moment in school matters. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, schools across the country have seen a drop in attendance—and we’re working hard to reverse that trend.

Regular attendance is vital for your child’s learning, wellbeing, and future success. Even small amounts of missed time—whether full days or just minutes due to lateness—can add up quickly. The chart below shows just how much of an impact lost time can have:

Reporting Absences

If your child is unwell, please call the school before 8:40am to let us know. Our phone lines are open from 8:00am, and you can also leave a message on the Absence Line.

When your child returns, we kindly ask for a written note confirming the reason for their absence. Just like in the workplace, absences longer than a few days may require evidence of a doctor’s appointment.

If we haven’t heard from you and your child hasn’t registered in class, we will contact you to check in. This is part of our Child Protection and Attendance procedures, and ensures your child’s safety.

Medical Appointments

Where possible, please arrange routine medical appointments outside of school hours. If an appointment must take place during the school day, we ask that you collect your child close to the appointment time to minimise disruption.

In some cases, we may request evidence of the appointment for our records.

Term-Time Holidays

We understand the importance of family time, and we publish our school holiday calendar well in advance to help families plan holidays during school breaks. You can find the current holiday pattern:

• In our weekly newsletter
• On the school website
• Or by requesting a copy from the school office

Term-time holidays are not permitted unless there are exceptional circumstances. If you believe your situation qualifies, please complete a Holiday Request Form (available on our website) and submit it before booking.

Requests are reviewed by a panel—dates for this are shared in the newsletter.

Please note: unauthorised absences may result in legal action by the Local Authority. We’re committed to working in partnership with parents to avoid this and ensure every child gets the best possible start.