Welcome to a new year and hopefully a bright and fulfilling time ahead.

Being around teachers and friends in a school environment is the best way for pupils to learn and reach their potential. Time in school also keeps children safe and provides access to extra-curricular  opportunities and pastoral care.  That’s why school attendance is so important and why we are committed to tackling the issues that might cause some children to miss school unnecessarily.

In most cases, if your child’s attendance level is falling, the school will contact you to explore the reasons and discuss what help can be put in place. You can expect the school to meet with you and your child if they are old enough.  Daunting as it may be to tackle the issues you’re facing, there is a huge range of support available to you from the school itself.

So, if school attendance is likely to become an issue don’t hang around, speak up and seek help “My message to all the children and young people out there is this:

If you want to give yourself the best opportunities in life and become the best version of yourself, then attending school and getting an education is vital.

It might be the last thing you want to do, what with all the other things going on in your life, but it really is important. So, if you find yourself wanting to skip school, talk to someone about why. Talk to a teacher or talk to a member of your family.

Written by: Nigel Shaddick, Attendance Officer