Extended Holidays
Attendance Strategy
Every day counts. Every child matters.
At Alexandra Park Junior School, we believe that regular attendance and good punctuality give children the best possible opportunity to thrive.
Our aspiration is for every child to achieve 100% attendance, and our school attendance target is 97% or above.
We are very proud that attendance at Alexandra Park Junior School is good. Our children and families understand the importance of coming to school every day and arriving on time, and together we have created a strong culture where being in school, learning and belonging really matters.
WHY DOES ATTENDANCE MATTER?
Good attendance is about so much more than the number on a register.
When children attend school regularly, they are able to:
- make the most of their learning opportunities;
- develop strong friendships and relationships;
- feel a greater sense of belonging;
- develop confidence and self-esteem;
- benefit from the routine and stability that school provides; and
- take part fully in the experiences, activities and opportunities that school has to offer.
There is a clear link between regular attendance and children's educational progress and attainment. But we also know that school is about much more than academic achievement. It is a place where children build friendships, develop confidence, discover their interests and learn how to navigate the world around them.
At Alexandra Park, we want every child to feel happy, safe, secure, valued and nurtured. We want school to feel like a home from home.
Every day really does count.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP
We understand that sometimes children and families experience difficulties which can make regular attendance challenging.
We are a warm, caring and compassionate school with an experienced and friendly Attendance Team. If there are barriers affecting your child's attendance, please talk to us.
We will listen, seek to understand your individual circumstances and work with you to find appropriate support. Where necessary, we will work with other professionals and services to help overcome barriers to attendance.
Our approach is always to work together with families and support children to attend school regularly and successfully.
You do not need to wait until attendance becomes a concern before speaking to us. If you are worried about your child's attendance, we would much rather hear from you early so that we can help.
IF YOUR CHILD IS ABSENT
If your child is going to be absent from school, please telephone the school office on 0161 770 8321 before 9.15am on the first day of absence and explain the reason for their absence.
If your child remains absent, please keep the school informed of their circumstances.
If you know in advance that your child will need to be absent, please speak to the school office as soon as possible.
We ask families to provide accurate information about the reason for absence so that we can record attendance correctly and, where appropriate, offer support.
ILLNESS AND ATTENDANCE
We understand that children do become unwell, and there are times when it is appropriate for a child to stay at home.
However, not every illness or minor ailment requires a child to miss school. We encourage parents and carers to use the NHS guidance when deciding whether their child is well enough to attend.
If your child is well enough to attend school, coming into school can often help them maintain their routine, remain connected with their friends and avoid missing important learning.
If your child becomes unwell during the school day, we will contact you if we feel they are unable to remain in school.
Our staff can administer medication where the appropriate arrangements and permissions are in place.
If you are unsure whether your child is well enough to attend, please check:
NHS – Is my child too ill for school?
AUTHORISED ABSENCE
There are circumstances in which an absence can be authorised. These may include:
- illness or another appropriate medical reason;
- medical or dental appointments which cannot reasonably be arranged outside school hours;
- certain religious observances;
- attendance at a funeral of a close family member or other exceptional circumstances; and
- other circumstances where the school has granted leave of absence in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Please remember that authorising an absence is a decision for the school, based on the individual circumstances and the relevant attendance guidance.
TERM-TIME HOLIDAYS
We strongly encourage families to arrange holidays during the school holidays.
In line with the law, schools are not able to routinely authorise holidays during term time. Leave of absence during term time will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.
Taking a holiday during term time without the school's permission may result in the absence being recorded as unauthorised and may lead to a Penalty Notice being considered.
LATENESS
Being on time matters.
Arriving late means that children miss valuable learning time and can also feel unsettled when joining their class after the school day has begun.
Please make every effort to ensure that your child arrives at school on time and is ready to learn.
Where a child arrives after the register has closed, this is recorded as an unauthorised absence for that session, unless there is an appropriate reason for a different attendance code to be used.
At Alexandra Park, we want every child to start their day positively, calmly and confidently.
PENALTY NOTICES
The Department for Education has a national framework for Penalty Notices relating to school attendance.
A Penalty Notice may be considered when a pupil has 10 sessions of unauthorised absence within a rolling period of 10 school weeks. Ten sessions is usually equivalent to five school days. The threshold can be reached through a combination of different types of unauthorised absence, including term-time holidays and certain instances of arriving late after the register has closed.
However, reaching the national threshold does not mean that a Penalty Notice is automatically issued. Schools and local authorities consider each individual case, including whether support is appropriate and whether a Penalty Notice is the most suitable way of improving attendance.
Where appropriate, the school and Manchester City Council may use the legal interventions available to them to address persistent unauthorised absence.
For further information about attendance and Penalty Notices, please see the relevant guidance from the Department for Education's attendance guidance.
CELEBRATING GREAT ATTENDANCE
We believe that attendance should be celebrated positively.
We want our children to understand that every day in school is an opportunity to learn, grow, have fun and spend time with their friends.
Weekly
🏆 The Principal presents the Attendance Trophy in assembly to the class with the best attendance that week.
The winning class keeps the trophy for the week and enjoys a special waffle treat.
⛵ Our 'Boat Race to Good Attendance' display is updated each week by our Attendance Officer and Children's Leadership Team.
📣 Class attendance is shared with parents and carers through our weekly newsletter.
Termly – from September 2026
We will also celebrate individual attendance achievements.
⭐ Bronze Star
Children achieving 97% or above for a full term will receive a bronze star pin badge and special certificate.
⭐ Silver Star
Children achieving 97% or above for two full terms will receive a silver star pin badge and certificate.
⭐ Gold Star
Children achieving 97% or above across the full academic year will receive a gold star pin badge and certificate.
Children achieving our attendance milestones will also be invited to enjoy a special additional playtime or time in the park at the end of the term.
We celebrate attendance because we want every child to experience the joy of being part of school every day.
OUR ATTENDANCE TEAM
We are always happy to talk.
If you have any concerns or worries about your child's attendance, punctuality or anything that may be making it difficult for them to come to school, please get in touch.
Our friendly Attendance Team is here to listen and support you.
Jo Booth – Attendance Lead
Mandy Stevenson – Attendance Champion/Responsible for Attendance
📞 0161 770 8321
Together, we can help every child make the most of every school day.
