Attendance

Every school day matters

At Cranleigh C of E Primary School, we want every child to feel happy, safe and that they truly belong.

Coming to school regularly gives children the best opportunity to learn, build friendships, develop confidence and feel part of our school community. Good attendance also helps children to keep up with their learning and means they don't miss out on all the other experiences that make school special.

We understand that children will sometimes be unwell or there may be circumstances that make attending school difficult. If you're experiencing difficulties with your child's attendance, please talk to us. We are here to listen, help and work with you.

Why is good attendance important?

There is a strong link between attendance and children's achievement at school.

Department for Education research published in 2025 found that Year 6 pupils with attendance of 95–100% were:

• 1.3 times more likely to achieve the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths than pupils with 90–95% attendance.
• 1.8 times more likely to achieve the expected standard than pupils with 85–90% attendance.

But attendance isn't only about academic achievement. Being in school regularly helps children to develop strong relationships, establish routines and feel connected to their friends, teachers and wider school community.

Every day in school is an opportunity to learn, belong and grow.

If your child is unwell

We know that children get poorly from time to time.

If your child is unable to attend school because they are unwell, please:

• Call the School Office on 01483 273286 between 8:30am and 9:00am.
• Let us know on the first day of absence and each following day that your child remains away from school.

Where we need supporting information following an absence, this could include:

• confirmation of a GP, nurse or medical appointment, such as an appointment card, text or email
• a pharmacy receipt or dated prescription label.

Please provide any requested information within five working days of your child's return to school.

Medical and dental appointments

Wherever possible, please arrange routine medical and dental appointments outside school hours or during school holidays.

We appreciate that this isn't always possible. If your child needs to attend an appointment during the school day, please let us know and aim for them to attend school before and/or after the appointment where appropriate.

Holidays and leave during term time

Regular attendance is really important, so families should avoid taking holidays during term time.

If there are exceptional circumstances and you need to request leave during term time, please complete a Leave of Absence Request Form, available from the School Office.

Please be aware that term-time leave cannot normally be authorised unless there are exceptional circumstances.

When coming to school feels difficult

Sometimes there is more behind an absence than simply feeling unwell.

If your child is worried about coming to school, experiencing difficulties at home or school, or there is anything else affecting their attendance, please speak to us as early as possible.

Working together usually gives us the best chance of understanding what is happening and putting the right support in place for your child.

How you can help

Parents and carers can support good attendance by:

• talking positively about school and the importance of attending every day
• establishing good morning and bedtime routines
• making sure children arrive at school on time
• arranging appointments outside school hours wherever possible
• talking to us early if something is making attendance difficult
• encouraging children to attend when they have minor ailments and are well enough to be in school.

Good attendance is a partnership between home and school. By working together, we can help every child make the most of their time at Cranleigh.

Further information

You can find our full Attendance Policy below, together with further information from the Department for Education:

• Working Together to Improve School Attendance – statutory guidance
• Working Together to Improve School Attendance: Guide for Parents
• The link between attendance and attainment in an assessment year (2025)