Attendance

Our Multi-Tiered System of Support

To ensure every child receives the right level of support, we use a multi-tiered system of attendance support, aligned with the Department for Education’s guidance Working Together to Improve School Attendance.

Tier 1 – Universal Support (For All Children)

• Clear, consistent expectations that help children feel they belong
• Positive reinforcement that motivates children to engage and explore learning
• Regular communication with families to support children to excel

Tiers 2 and 3 – Targeted and Intensive Support

• Tailored support for children and families facing additional challenges
• Collaborative working between school staff, parents/carers, and external agencies
• A focus on removing barriers so every child can belong confidently, explore fully, and excel consistently

Recognition-Based Approach

Our attendance philosophy is rooted in a recognition-based approach that celebrates both individual effort and collective success. We believe that recognising positive attendance behaviours helps create a supportive and motivating school culture where everyone feels valued.

This approach focuses on:

• Celebrating progress, not just perfection, recognising improvement as well as consistently good attendance
• Building positive relationships between children, families, and staff through encouragement and shared success
• Promoting inclusivity, ensuring all children feel supported, regardless of individual circumstances
• Motivating pupils and families by reinforcing the importance of attendance in a positive and respectful way

Through regular praise, class and whole-school recognition, and clear communication with families, we aim to create an environment where children feel proud of their efforts and motivated to attend school regularly.

Our recognition-based approach reflects our ethos of Belong, Explore, Excel:

• Belong: Children feel valued and recognised as part of our school community.
• Explore: Positive reinforcement encourages children to engage confidently in learning and school life.
• Excel: Recognition of effort and achievement supports high expectations and continuous improvement.

Working together to improve school attendance – Guidance from the Department for Education

Walton-le-Dale expect a minimum 95% attendance for all students throughout the academic year.

Absences

Please note that all absences need to be reported before 8:45am on the day of absence.

Ways to report absences:

• Call school on 01772 335726 option 1 you will be directed straight through to the Attendance Office or their answerphone
• All absences need to be reported daily – you cannot ‘block book’ absences

• Home visits will be conducted for all absences on day 2 or three as per the Lancashire County Council Attendance Pathway

Medical Appointments

The school would prefer that all appointments were made outside of school hours, however we appreciate that this isn’t always possible.

In order to allow your child to leave school during school hours all appointments should be logged on the school absence line; 01772 335726 option 1,  proof of the appointment (e.g. photo of letter, screenshot of text message) will then be requested by email.

Please do not email the Houseleaders as they are not responsible for the management of attendance.

Where it isn’t possible due to an emergency appointment, proof will need to be supplied upon return from the appointment.

If proof is not supplied the absence will be marked as unauthorised and will be reported on trackers. This is a directive from the Local Authority. (LCC)

Lates

The school day starts at 8.45am. Pupils are expected to be on the premises by 8:40 and in form by 8:45  when the registration period starts (ie when the register is taken and remains open).

When the attendance register has been taken it remains open until 9:10am in the morning and 1:55pm in the afternoon.

Pupils who arrive after the register has been taken (8:45am or 1:50pm) but before it is closed (9:10am or 1:55pm), will be marked as code L. This is classed as late but present for the session (ie the morning or afternoon).

Pupils who arrive after the register has closed and without a valid reason for being late (such as attending a dental or medical appointment) will be marked as code U, which is classed as an unauthorised absence but indicates that the pupil was physically present in school for part of the session.

Those arriving to form after 8.45am are late and will serve a same-day 10 minutes break detention. This is a non-negotiable detention and we would appreciate the support of all parents/carers with this.  Failure to attend this break detention will result in an upscaled after school 30 minutes detention the next day.

School is trying to prepare all students for the wider world. Punctuality is always important in all aspects of life.

Leave requests

All leave requests need to be completed on the form (click here) and submitted directly to attendance@wldhigh.co.uk for consideration by the Headteacher. Only the Headteacher can approve any leave in term time; this applies to holidays, funerals, compassionate leave, sporting activities, scout camps – in essence anything that means a child cannot attend school on a certain day.

Holiday in term time is a large problem for all schools since the pandemic, as a result any holidays in term time may result in your child being ineligible for any reward trips that year.

Penalty Notices

Click here for information regarding penalty notice fines for schools attendance