Attendance
Attendance and Punctuality
Every Day Counts at Stanhope
At Stanhope, we believe that every child deserves every opportunity to shine- and that starts with being in school, on time, every day.
Good attendance is essential to your child’s learning, confidence, friendships and future success. That’s why we work in partnership with families to help every child develop strong attendance habits from the very start.
“We listen, understand, empathise and support - because we know that strong attendance is a shared responsibility.”
Stanhope Attendance Vision
Why Attendance Matters
Children who attend school regularly:
Achieve more academically
Develop stronger social skills and friendships
Grow in confidence and resilience
Feel more connected to school life
Even just a few days of missed learning can quickly add up:
Attendance | Days Missed in a Year |
|---|---|
100% | 0 |
95% | 10 |
90% | 20 |
85% | 30 |
80% | 40 |
Our Expectations at Stanhope
We expect every child to attend school:
Every day that school is open
On time, ready to learn by 8:45am (gates open at 8:35am for a soft start)
With full support from home to develop a strong routine
We understand that illness and emergencies happen. When they do, please contact the school office by 8:45am on each day of your child’s absence. If no reason is received, you will be contacted by our office, and if necessary, a home visit may be made for safeguarding reasons.
Being on Time Matters Too
Registers close at 9:10am – arrival after this may be recorded as an unauthorised absence.
If your child is late 10 times or more, further action may be taken.
Morning routines matter - being on time ensures a calm and settled start to the day.
Leave During Term Time
The Department for Education states that holidays during term time will not be authorised unless there are exceptional circumstances. Unauthorised absences of 5 days (10 sessions) or more within a rolling 10-week period may result in a fixed penalty notice.
If you need to request leave, please complete a Leave of Absence Form at least four weeks in advance. Each request will be considered by the Headteacher.
Working Together for Strong Attendance
We use a tiered support approach to work with families based on individual need:
Tier 1 – Everyday Monitoring
All pupils are expected to meet our minimum attendance target of 96%. Rewards, praise, and recognition are given to those showing great or improved attendance.
Tier 2 – Early Support
If your child’s attendance falls below 93%, we’ll make contact to offer support and work with you to prevent further decline.
Tier 3 – Persistent Absence (Below 90%)
For children with persistent absence, you will be invited to meet with school leaders to create an attendance plan. Where improvement is not seen, this may lead to further action or a fixed penalty notice, in line with local authority guidance.
Celebrating Success
We love celebrating the commitment our Stanhope Stars show to being in school every day! We do this through:
Weekly Class 97% Star
Postcards home for improvement
Recognition in Celebration Assemblies
Let’s Work Together
Our attendance team, led by Miss Vernon (Attendance Officer) and Mr White (Headteacher), are here to help. Whether you need support with routines, appointments, anxieties or long-term needs - please talk to us. We are here to support, not judge.
Together, we can ensure that every Stanhope child has the chance to reach their potential - because every day at school counts.
📞 Contact the school office by 8:45am on: 0115 955 3440
📩 Or email: office@stanhope.notts.sch.uk