Attendance & Leave of Absence Form

At St Stephen’s, we know that excellent attendance and punctuality are essential for every child.  Promoting excellent attendance is the duty of everyone; parents/ carers, staff and pupils. 

School attendance is a fundamental aspect of a child's educational journey, laying the groundwork for future academic and personal success. Regular attendance ensures that children have consistent access to a broad and balanced curriculum, develop essential literacy and numeracy skills, and benefit from social interaction with their peers. It also helps to establish routines and attitudes towards learning that can positively influence a child’s development throughout their school years and into adulthood.

Beyond academic achievement, attending school regularly supports a child’s emotional and social well-being. Schools provide a structured environment where children can build friendships, develop confidence, and access support services if needed. Persistent absence, on the other hand, is often linked to poorer outcomes in both education and life opportunities.

For these reasons, the Department for Education in England places strong emphasis on improving attendance and working with families to address any barriers that might prevent children from coming to school.

We are committed to ensuring that every child has the best possible attendance to support their learning and progress. As such, we encourage all families to avoid taking children out of school during term time. However, we understand that in rare and exceptional circumstances, a leave of absence may be necessary.

If you need to request term-time leave for your child, please complete the form attached and return it to the school office as early as possible. All requests will be considered in line with our attendance policy.

 Leave of absence form pupilBWCAT Attendance Policy - Approved for September 2024