Attendance
Let’s talk about: Attendance
Why do we go on about it?
Why is it so important? Attendance is about learning. The evidence is clear - children with higher attendance make more progress and do better in school. Every time a child misses a day of school, they miss the learning that takes place that day. They miss the sound that the class were learning in phonics, they miss learning mathematical concepts that they will need in later lessons and they miss social learning – those interactions with staff and other children that help them to grow as people. Everything they miss has an impact on what comes next. Sometimes - if they are vomiting or have a temperature, for example - a child may be too unwell to come to school. However, symptoms like a sniffle or a blocked nose or a headache are not, by themselves, a reason to keep a child off. They would far rather feel a little under the weather in school with their friends than at home, missing out on learning. These gaps in learning are also the reason why we don’t authorise holidays during term time. We are here to teach your child to learn and flourish in so many different ways - we’re good at it - and when children are not here they are missing out.
At Hunton CE Primary School, excellent attendance is everyone’s responsibility. We know that regular, punctual attendance lays the foundation for strong academic outcomes, confident learners, and positive wellbeing. Every day in school matters. Each lesson builds on the last, and children who attend consistently are more likely to thrive—socially, emotionally, and academically.
We work closely with families, Kent County Council and other agencies to promote outstanding attendance across our school community. Our aim is to provide tailored support to families and remove barriers to attendance, so that every child has the best possible opportunity to succeed.