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Attendance 

Attendance Matters at Mulgrave Primary School 

At Mulgrave, we believe every school day counts. Coming to school regularly and on time is essential to help children Learn, Believe and Succeed — academically, socially, and emotionally.

 

Why Good Attendance Matters

  • Achieve academic success – Good attendance means children can keep up with learning, understand lessons better, and make strong progress in all subjects.
  • Build friendships and confidence – Regular school attendance helps children stay connected with their classmates, develop key social skills, and feel a sense of belonging.
  • Secure a brighter future – Good habits start early. Strong attendance in primary school sets children up for success in secondary school, future careers, and beyond.

 

What Is Considered Good Attendance? 

  • The Government expects at least 95% attendance for all pupils.
  • If a child's attendance drops below 90%, they are classed as a Persistent Absentee, which can seriously affect their learning and development.
  • For context: 90% attendance over a year = nearly 4 weeks of missed learning.

 

Parent and Carers Responsibilities 

By law, parents and carers must make sure their child attends school regularly and on time. 

 

  • If your child is unwell or cannot attend school, please contact the office on the first day of absence.
  • It’s important that you keep us informed — the school will decide if the absence can be authorised.

The School's Role

We take attendance seriously at Mulgrave:

  • Registers are taken twice daily and recorded on our system.
  • Our Attendance Team monitors attendance carefully and will be in touch if there are any concerns.
  • If attendance continues to be poor, we may need to involve the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s Attendance Advisory Service, and legal action may be considered in serious cases.

 

Authorised vs Unauthorised Absence 

We understand that sometimes children can't attend school. Absences can fall into two categories:

  • Authorised: Illness, medical/dental appointments, religious observance, or family emergencies (e.g. bereavement). 
  • Unauthorised: Holidays during term time, no explanation provided, or absences not agreed by the school.

Please always talk to us before planning any time off — holidays during term time will not be authorised.  

 

When Should I Keep My Child Off?

Not sure if your child is too ill for school? Visit the NHS guidance for school absence to help you decide. In general, if your child is well enough to take part in daily activities, they should be in school. 

 

What Happens If Attendance Is Poor? 

If your child’s attendance drops below 90%, this will be flagged to our Safeguarding and Inclusion Teams, and may also be shared with the Local Authority. Poor attendance can lead to: 

  • Lower academic progress
  • Social difficulties or isolation

Legal action for parents in extreme cases 


We’re here to help. If you're struggling with your child’s attendance, please speak to your child’s teacher or a member of our Inclusion Team — we’ll work with you to put support in place.  

Need Help?

Please contact the school office or speak to our Home School Liaison Officer (HSLO) or Attendance Lead if you have any questions or concerns about attendance. Together, we can make sure your child gets the very best out of their time at Mulgrave.