Attendance

Every Day Counts

Beacon View Primary School believes that every child deserves the best possible start in life — and attending school on time, every day plays a huge part in that.

When children come to school every day, they:

Make steady progress in their learning
Build confidence, resilience and self-belief
Form lasting friendships
Feel part of a caring and supportive community

We understand that sometimes life can be complicated, and getting to school every day isn’t always easy. But by working together, we can help your child feel happy, safe, and ready to learn.

When Your Child Can’t Attend

If your child is unwell or there’s another reason they can’t attend, contact school on the first day of absence.

Further ways parents can support with attendance:

Tell us right away if your child is ill or unable to attend and make regular contact with school
Plan medical or dental appointments outside school hours when possible.
Speak with us early if you know your child will need time off for any reason — we’ll help you understand what’s possible.
When requested, please share medical evidence (like a doctor’s note) so we can record the absence correctly.

Some absences can be authorised in special circumstances, such as a family bereavement or religious observance.
However, term-time holidays cannot be authorised, and may result in a fine.

If you’re ever unsure — just talk to us. We’re here to help.

Your Role and the Law

As a parent or carer, you play the most important role in your child’s education.
By law, children aged 5 to 16 must receive a suitable, full-time education, either at school or through other approved arrangements.

If a pupil has 10 or more unauthorised absences within a 10-week period, the Local Authority may issue a fine or notice to improve.
In very serious cases, this could lead to legal action — but please know, this is always a last resort.

Our goal is to support, not punish. We’ll always work with you first to understand what’s happening and find positive solutions.

If Attendance Becomes Difficult

If your child’s attendance starts to cause concern, we’ll reach out — not to blame, but to listen. We work closely with our Educational Welfare Officer, Claire Smout.

Sometimes, families face challenges that make attending school harder. Whether it’s illness, anxiety, transport issues, or other family pressures — please let us know.
We can connect you with help and guidance.

Let’s Work Together

We’re here to support your family and ensure your child gets the most out of every school day.
If you’re worried about attendance or need advice, please reach out to us.

Together, we can help your child enjoy learning, build confidence, and achieve their best.

We believe in partnership, and we’re always here to help.