The Importance of Good School Attendance

At Roundwood school, we want every child to have the very best chance of success. One of the most important ways families can support learning is by ensuring children attend school regularly.

The school year has 190 learning days. Even small amounts of absence add up quickly, and the impact on learning can be significant.

What does attendance really mean in days?

• 100% Attendance – 0 days missed
  Children with full attendance have the best chance of success and make the most progress.

• 95% Attendance – 10 days missed
  This might not sound like much, but it is two weeks of learning lost.

• 90% Attendance – 19 days missed
  That’s almost 4 weeks of school missed. Over five years, this adds up to half a school year of learning lost.

• 85% Attendance – 29 days missed
  Missing over half a term leads to a much lower chance of success.

• 80% Attendance – 38 days missed

  • More than 7 weeks missed

  • This has a serious impact on learning.

• 75% Attendance – 47 days missed
  Nearly a quarter of the year missed, which significantly reduces a child’s future life chances.

Why every day matters

Each school day introduces new learning. Children who miss lessons can find it harder to keep up, and absence can affect confidence, friendships, and progress across the curriculum.

Holidays in term time

The image highlights that a 2-week holiday during term time means that the highest attendance a child can achieve that year is 94.7%. Even one short holiday has a big impact.

Working together

We understand that children may need to miss school occasionally due to illness, but we ask all families to:

• Book appointments outside school hours wherever possible

• Avoid term-time holidays

• Keep us informed about any difficulties affecting attendance

By working together, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Every school day counts—every lesson matters.

Take a look at our Attendance leaflet which explains in depth the importance of good attendance for your child.