At Holy Cross, we want every child to enjoy school, build strong friendships and achieve their very best. To do this, they need to be in school every day and on time. Good attendance is directly linked to success - academically, socially and emotionally.
We work closely with our families to remove any barriers to attendance, and we are here to help if you need support. Together, we can ensure that every child has the strongest future possible.
Why attendance matters
- Every single day of learning counts
- Missing lessons makes it harder to keep up
- Attendance affects confidence, progress and relationships
- Good attendance builds positive lifelong habits
Even a few days off can make a big difference. We set a whole-school expectation of at least 97% attendance.
A caring and supportive approach
We know children become unwell at times. When this happens, please:
- Contact the school before 9am each day of absence
- Let us know the reason so we can record it accurately
- Update us regularly if illness continues
If you are unsure whether your child is well enough to attend, please contact us via the office.
If attendance drops or becomes a concern, we will work with families quickly so pupils can get back on track, including support from the Education and Inclusion Service where needed.
Punctuality matters too
Arriving late:
- Disrupts learning for your child and others
- Can cause children to feel embarrassed or anxious
- Means important teaching may be lost
We encourage all families to aim for arrival between 8:30 - 8:35am so pupils are ready for registrations and learning.
Term-time holidays
The law states that parents must ensure their child attends school regularly.
The headteacher may only authorise leave of absence if there are exceptional circumstances:
- Holidays during term-time are not deemed exceptional
- Unauthorised holidays may result in a penalty notice from the Local Authority.
More information from the DfE and the Local Authority can be found here: