Why Attendance Matters

At The Mill Academy, we know that excellent attendance is essential for every child to achieve their full potential. Good attendance helps children to:

• Learn new skills and knowledge.

• Build friendships and develop social skills.

• Gain valuable qualifications.

• Grow in confidence and self-esteem.

• Experience new opportunities and develop an understanding of the wider world.

• Have the best possible start in life.

Children who attend school regularly are far more likely to achieve well and make the most of the opportunities available to them.

The Law on School Attendance

Parents and carers are legally responsible for ensuring their child attends school regularly if they are of compulsory school age.

Failure to ensure regular attendance may result in fines or legal action. While this is always a last resort, it highlights the importance of supporting your child to attend school every day.

Family Holidays

We ask all parents to support their child’s learning by avoiding term-time holidays. With only 190 statutory school days in each academic year, there is plenty of time to take holidays outside term time.

Any holidays taken during term time will be recorded as unauthorised absence.

How Parents Can Help

You can support your child’s attendance by:

• Establishing a consistent morning and evening routine.

• Ensuring your child arrives on time (8:45am for Nursery/FS1, 8:50am for Reception, KS1, and KS2).

• Booking medical and dental appointments outside school hours where possible.

• Informing school before 9am if your child is absent due to illness.

• Talking positively about school and taking an interest in their work.

• Attending parents’ evenings and school events.

• Encouraging and praising effort and achievement.

• Speaking to staff if your child has any worries—we are here to help.

Attendance Expectations

• 97% attendance is the minimum expectation for every child at The Mill Academy.

• A child with 90% attendance misses almost 4 weeks of school over a year—half a day every week.

• Pupils falling below 90% are classed as persistently absent and will be supported through interventions to improve attendance.

Parents receive termly attendance reports to help monitor their child’s attendance.

Reporting Absence

If your child is absent, please:

• Contact the school before 9am by phone 01226 289096

• If no contact is received, school staff will phone home or send a message. If no communication is made, the absence will be marked as unauthorised.

Is my child too ill for school – Government Guidance

School Times

• Morning Nursery: 8:45am – 11:45am

• Afternoon Nursery: 12:30pm – 3:30pm

• FS2 (Reception): 8:50am – 3:30pm

• KS1 (Years 1 & 2): 8:50am – 3:30pm

• KS2 (Years 3–6): 8:50am – 3:30pm

Policy

For more details, please see the link to our HCAT attendance policy.

Thank you for your continued support in ensuring your child attends school every day—together we can give them the very best chance to succeed.