Attendance

Everyday at Woodhall is filled to the brim with important lessons, thrilling games, valuable time with friends and let’s be honest.. just plain fun! We are proud to say that missing even one day at Woodhall, really does mean missing out. Numerous studies have also shown that good attendance in primary school is linked to better exam results, better job prospects, better physical and mental health and even stronger friendships later in life. Therefore, to ensure the very best start possible, every Woodhall child should strive to have ‘Good Attendance’ of at least 97%.

Of course, some absence is unavoidable and sometimes, poorly children do need a day at home to recover. These absences should be kept to a minimum, however, and a good rule of thumb is when your child is able to sit up, eat or watch T.V., they are probably well enough to go back to school. Further advice can be found in our Attendance Policy linked below including a list of helpful terms, contact information and actions you can take in different scenarios.

If your child seems to be ill frequently or cannot shift an illness, please consider bringing them to the GP or call 111 for further investigation and do keep us informed about any long-term health concerns or conditions so we can work together to support you. Sometimes, a child who is feeling a little bit tired or emotional or worried might complain about feeling sick. Remember, we are here to help. By working together, we can help address any problems they may be facing quickly and we can offer support, advice and strategies to help improve your child’s attendance moving forward.

Should your child require a day off school for a different reason, however, whether it be for an appointment, an important family event or for religious observance, please fill in the ‘Leave of Absence’ form below to notify us before the absence itself. Wherever possible, appointments should be made outside of school hours and please remember, as much as we all love a little holiday, school cannot authorise any absence for term-time holidays.

By the end of the year, if your child’s attendance slips to even 90%, while that doesn’t sound like a lot on paper, it actually means that they have missed at least 20 days of school (an entire month!) That is equivalent to 400 lessons and at least 25 hours of playing and socialising with their friends. Keeping a regular school routine is so important not only for learning but also social development, good mental health and children’s well-being. If you are concerned that your child is falling behind in their learning or finding it difficult to manage their emotions or make friends, it is always useful to look at their attendance and see if that can be improved first. So, if you are struggling to get your children into school- for any reason- do not suffer in silence, please contact the team on: attendance@woodhall.herts.sch.uk.

We also keep parents informed when attendance falls below the expected standard, regularly meeting with Hertfordshire County Attendance Improvement Officers who are on hand to monitor attendance and contact families directly to help tackle poor, persistent and unauthorised absences. (More information is available in our school Attendance Policy.)

We also take every opportunity to celebrate and promote good attendance. Keep an eye on our Facebook posts where we regularly update everyone about our successes, the fun challenges, certificates and special events that help recognise good and improving attendance in school.