Parents Page - Encouraging Attendance

Never Miss A Day

How can I help my child?

There are many things you can do to help encourage your child to attend school regularly and on time.

• Praise is very important. Be sure to congratulate your child for any school achievements.
  
• Let your child know that you think school is very important. Tell them why it is and try to always portray school in a positive light; your upbeat attitude will hopefully reflect on your child.
  
• Wherever possible organise your child’s doctors, dentists, and hospital appointments before or after school. If this is not possible return them straight to school afterwards.
  
• If your child is worried or has a problem discuss it with their school or Primary Support Worker. Letting them stay off school will not make the problem go away.
  
• Take time with your child each night before school to organise their equipment, bus fares, dinner money, PE kit etc.
  
• Contact the school before 9.00am on the first day your child is absent. A written note should be sent to the school as soon as possible.
  
• Recognise lateness as well as absence. This causes disruption to others and wastes valuable teaching time.
  
• Try to implement no TV on school mornings. The fewer distractions your child has the better.
  
• When your child is ready for school on time, remember to let him or her know how much this helps the whole family.
  
• Try not to disrupt your child’s education by taking children away on holiday during term time. The Project recognises that in some cases this is unavoidable. Have you considered –
  - long weekends attached onto a teacher training day (when children are already off school)?
  
  - Going away for 1 week rather than 2.
  
  - If cost is the sole factor, have you considered using Sunderland’s specially negotiated discount voucher entitling you to savings during the official school holidays? Click here for mare info on this link to HAYS disc voucher.