Attendance
Every Day Matters
At Grafton Primary School, we believe every school day is an opportunity to learn, grow and belong.
Children learn something new every day — not only in English, mathematics or science, but through conversations with friends, shared experiences, class discussions, creative activities and the many moments that make up school life.
When children attend school regularly and arrive on time, they are able to build secure knowledge, develop confidence and feel fully connected to their class and school community.
Every day really does matter.
Why Good Attendance Is So Important
Regular attendance helps children to:
- Build secure knowledge and understanding over time.
- Develop confidence by learning alongside their classmates.
- Form strong friendships and feel a sense of belonging.
- Take part in the full range of learning experiences, trips, performances and celebrations.
- Develop important life skills such as commitment, responsibility and reliability.
Learning is carefully planned so that each lesson builds on previous learning. Missing even a short period of school can make it harder for children to reconnect with new concepts and keep pace with the rest of the class.
Just as importantly, children also miss the everyday experiences that cannot be repeated — the discussions, practical activities, collaborative learning and moments of discovery that happen naturally throughout the school day.
Working Together
We know that children sometimes become unwell, and there will always be occasions when they are genuinely unable to attend school.
When this happens, we ask parents and carers to let us know as soon as possible so that we can support your child and keep accurate attendance records.
Please report your child's absence to the school on this form:
We see attendance as a partnership between home and school. By working together, we can help every child develop positive habits that will benefit them throughout their education and beyond.
Being on Time Matters Too
Arriving punctually helps children begin the day calmly and confidently.
It allows them to settle into their classroom, reconnect with friends and take part in the important routines that start each day.
Late arrivals can mean children miss valuable learning and can also disrupt the learning of others. Establishing good routines around punctuality helps children develop habits of organisation, responsibility and respect that will serve them well throughout life.
Our Expectations
We expect every child to attend school every day that they are well enough to do so and to arrive on time, ready to learn.
Parents and carers have a legal responsibility to ensure that children of compulsory school age attend school regularly.
If you are experiencing circumstances that are affecting your child's attendance, please speak to us. We are here to work alongside families wherever we can.
Persistent Absence
The Government defines a child as persistently absent when their attendance falls below 90%. This means that, over the course of an academic year, a child has missed a significant amount of learning.
Good attendance gives children the very best opportunity to flourish academically, socially and emotionally, and we will always work with families to support improved attendance wherever possible.
Together, we can help every child make the most of every school day.
Policy and Procedures
Attendance Policy
Leave of Absence during Term Time
In line with government guidance, Islington schools will not authorise holidays in term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Should you be faced with an exceptional circumstance and need to apply for Leave of Absence for your child, please complete this form and the Headteacher will respond to your request:
Term Time Leave of Absence - Exceptional Circumstances
Reporting an Absence
Please report your child's absence before 9:00am using this form:
If the school is not advised about why a child is absent by 10:00am, a text will be sent to parents/carers requesting that they update the school. If the school hasn't heard from parents by 11:00am, phone calls will be made home by the office.
Change to Pick Up Arrangements
You may on occasion not be able to pick your child up after school as arranged. If there is any change in these arrangements, it is important that parents inform the school as soon as possible.
Ad-hoc changes to pick up arrangements on the day should be submitted on this form:
Pick Up ArrangementsThis form should be submitted as early as possible in the morning, and by 14:00 at the latest. Any changes to pick up arrangements after 14:00 need to be communicated to the school office via phone.
Medical Appointments
Sometimes children may need to visit the hospital or attend an appointment. We encourage parents and carers to make as many appointments for their children as soon as possible during holiday periods but where this isn’t possible please let the office know beforehand, taking your child out for as little of the school day as possible.
Attendance Procedures
Supporting Children with Persistent Absence
We understand that, for some children and families, maintaining regular attendance can be more challenging. Illness, anxiety, changing family circumstances or other difficulties can sometimes make coming to school feel overwhelming.
If your child is finding it difficult to attend school regularly, please talk to us as early as possible. By working together, we can begin to understand the barriers your child is experiencing and explore practical ways to support them.
There is rarely a single solution. Every child is different, and the support they need will be different too. Whether that means helping to establish positive morning routines, providing additional pastoral support, carefully planning a child's return after a period of absence or working alongside other professionals where appropriate, our aim is always the same: to help every child feel confident, supported and able to be in school.
We also know that progress doesn't always happen all at once. Sometimes the first step is simply attending more regularly than before, arriving on time more often or feeling confident enough to come through the school gates. We celebrate those small successes while continuing to work together towards our shared goal of full and regular attendance.
At Grafton, we believe that every child deserves to feel that they belong. If attendance has become a challenge, we won't stop caring or stop believing in your child. We'll work alongside you to help them reconnect with school, rebuild their confidence and experience the many opportunities that come from being present every day.
For school support regarding your child's persistent absence, please contact our Pastoral Care Manager, Camilla Jarvis (camilla.jarvis@grafton.islington.sch.uk)
Penalty Notices
Here, Grafton is governed by the policies and practices established by Islington LA and further information may be found here:
Failure to ensure your child attends school regularly and punctually may result in court action or you may be issued with a penalty notice for £160, reduced to £80 if you pay it within 21 days. You have 28 days to pay. If you don’t pay, you may face prosecution. There is no right of appeal for Penalty Notices.
Pay Education Penalty Notice: up to 21 days
Pay Education Penalty Notice: 22-28 days
Fines must be paid in full. Late, part payments or instalments will not be accepted. Please find below a link to Islington Council’s Penalty Notice Code of Conduct.