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Attendance

Every School Day Counts

At Soham Village College, we believe that excellent attendance is one of the most important factors in helping young people achieve their full potential.

Regular attendance supports academic success, positive wellbeing, strong friendships and future opportunities. Every lesson builds upon previous learning, and even short periods of absence can make it harder for students to keep up with their peers.

We recognise that there will be times when students are genuinely unable to attend school due to illness or exceptional circumstances. Our aim is to work in partnership with families to support good attendance and overcome any barriers that may affect a student's ability to attend regularly.

Every day in school matters. Every lesson matters. Every child matters.

Why Attendance Matters

Students with strong attendance are more likely to:

  • Achieve better examination outcomes.
  • Make stronger academic progress.
  • Develop positive friendships and relationships.
  • Build confidence, resilience and independence.
  • Take part in enrichment opportunities and extra-curricular clubs and activities.
  • Develop routines and habits that prepare them for future education and employment.

Missing school does not simply mean missing work. Students miss teacher explanations, practical activities, discussions with peers and opportunities to ask questions. These experiences are difficult to replicate outside the classroom.

Attendance and Lost Learning

Attendance percentages can sometimes appear high, but even a small reduction in attendance can result in significant learning loss over a school year.

Our ambition is for every student to achieve attendance of 96% or above, enabling them to fully benefit from their education and school experiences.

Attendance below this level can begin to have a measurable impact on learning and progress.

Where attendance falls below expected levels, the school will:

  1. Monitor attendance closely.
  2. Communicate with parents and carers.
  3. Identify and address barriers to attendance.
  4. Offer appropriate support and intervention.
  5. Work collaboratively with families to improve attendance.

Punctuality

At Soham Village College, we believe that arriving on time is an important part of developing positive habits for learning and future success.

The start of the school day is an important opportunity for students to connect with their tutor, receive key information and begin learning positively. Arriving late can cause unnecessary stress for students and disruption to learning.

Even a few minutes of lateness each day can quickly add up over the course of a school year.

Why Being on Time Matters

Students who arrive punctually are more likely to:

  • Start lessons calmly and confidently.
  • Develop positive routines and habits.
  • Engage fully in tutor time and learning activities.
  • Avoid missing important instructions and explanations.
  • Make the most of every learning opportunity.

How Families Can Help

Parents and carers can support punctuality by:

  • Establishing consistent morning routines.
  • Preparing equipment, uniform and bags the night before.
  • Encouraging good sleep habits.
  • Leaving sufficient time for travel.
  • Contacting school early if there are unexpected difficulties.

We Are Here to Support

At Soham Village College, we understand that attendance difficulties can arise for a wide variety of reasons.

These may include:

If attendance becomes a concern, please contact your child's Head of Year as soon as possible to discuss how we can help.

Support may include:

  • Attendance mentoring.
  • Pastoral support.
  • Wellbeing interventions.
  • Family meetings.
  • Individual attendance plans.
  • Graduated reintegration programmes.
  • Referrals to external agencies where appropriate.

NHS: Is My Child Too Ill for School?

We understand that deciding whether a child is well enough to attend school can sometimes be difficult. 

The NHS provides excellent guidance to help parents decide whether a child should attend school. Click on the NHS logo to visit their information pages on common health conditions.

If you are uncertain, please contact our Attendance Officer, who will be happy to discuss your child's circumstances.

Reporting Absence

If your child needs to miss a school day, this should be reported by 8.30am to our Attendance Officer.

When reporting an illness absence, please provide as much detail as possible regarding:

  • Symptoms experienced.
  • Any medical advice received.
  • Any medication prescribed.
  • Expected duration of absence.

Where medical advice has been sought, families are encouraged to retain supporting evidence such as appointment confirmations, prescriptions or hospital letters.

Medical Appointments

Wherever possible, medical and dental appointments should be arranged outside school hours.

When appointments must take place during the school day:

  • Inform the school in advance.
  • Provide evidence of the appointment where possible.
  • Ensure your child attends school before and/or after the appointment if they are well enough to do so.

Planned Term-Time Absence

We strongly advise families not to arrange holidays or leisure trips during term time.

The Government's regulations make it clear that headteachers may only authorise leave of absence during term time in exceptional circumstances. Requests for leave must be made in advance by completing our online form:

Term Time Leave Request Form

Any requests will be considered individually and in line with current legislation and guidance.

If the absence is not authorised and is for 5 days or over, the following applies:

  • Penalty Notices will be issued to the parents/guardians/caregivers who went on the Term Time Leave.
  • The fine will be £160 if paid within 28 days. This will be reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days.
  • A second penalty notice for the same parent in respect of the same child is charged at the higher rate.
  • Only 2 penalty notices can be issued to the same parent in respect of the same child within a 3-year rolling period. If Term Time Leave occurs again, a prosecution sanction will be used.
  • If the absence is for more than 21 days, a prosecution sanction will be used.

Frequently Asked Questions

My child says they feel unwell. Should I keep them off school?

If your child is experiencing mild symptoms and is able to take part in normal school activities, we encourage attendance. If they become unwell during the school day, we will contact you.

What if my child is anxious about attending school?

Please contact your child's Head of Year as soon as possible. Early communication allows us to put support in place before patterns of absence develop.

My child has a medical appointment during the day. Do they need the whole day off?

Usually not. Students should attend school before and after appointments wherever possible.

What happens if attendance becomes a concern?

We will work with students and families to understand any difficulties and provide support aimed at improving attendance.

Who should I contact if I need help?

Please contact the Attendance Team via attendance@sohamvc.org or telephone 01353 724100.

At Soham Village College, we know that attendance is the foundation for success. Every lesson provides opportunities for learning, personal development and connection with others. By working together, we can ensure every student benefits fully from their education and achieves their very best.

Mr R Pearce
Assistant Headteacher & Senior Attendance Champion

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