Attendance and Punctuality

Attendance at Christ the King

At Christ the King, we believe that regular school attendance and good punctuality are essential to children’s learning, wellbeing and long‑term success. Being in school every day helps children build strong routines, feel secure and confident and make the most of every learning opportunity.

We take a supportive, caring and collaborative approach to attendance and work closely with children, parents/carers and staff so that every child feels safe, valued and ready to learn.

Why Attendance Matters

There is a strong link between good attendance and positive outcomes at school. Children who attend regularly are more likely to:

• Achieve their best and make steady progress in learning
• Feel confident, settled and included

• Build friendships and positive relationships with adults
• Develop routines and habits that support future education and employment

Even small amounts of absence and lateness quickly add up and can have a significant impact on learning and progress, so every day really does count.

Attendance – A Local Authority Message

Creating good attendance habits early helps children avoid missing more school later and reduces disruption to their future education.

For further guidance for families, please visit manchester.gov.uk/attendance

Our Attendance Expectations

• School gates open at 8:30am and close at 8:45am
• Learning begins as soon as children enter their classroom
• We encourage pupils to aim for at least 95% attendance, recognising that illness does sometimes occur
• Attendance and punctuality are monitored regularly so that support can be offered early when needed

Being on Time for School

Being on time for school is extremely important. It helps children develop good habits for life and ensures they start the day calmly and ready to learn.

When children arrive late, they may:

• Miss valuable teaching time
• Miss important social time with teachers and friends
• Feel unsettled or anxious
• Disrupt learning for themselves and others  

Key timings:

• Gates open: 8:30am
• Gates close: 8:45am
• Arrivals after 8:45am are marked as late and children must be signed in by an adult (a legal requirement) at the School Office
• If a child arrives after 9:15am, lose their mark for the whole morning session, and have an ‘unauthorised absence’ mark, which significantly impacts their attendance record

Late arrivals also place additional pressure on the office team, who must escort children to class.

We understand that traffic can be busy and kindly ask families to plan ahead and allow a little extra time wherever possible. On the rare occasion families are unavoidably late, we ask that parents/carers contact school to let us know.

Celebrating and Rewarding Good Attendance

We strongly believe in recognising and celebrating effort and commitment.

The Prize Pod

The Prize Pod is our family‑focused attendance reward. Children receive raffle tickets for full weeks of attendance, which are entered into the Prize Pod. Termly draws offer prizes designed to benefit the whole family, such as vouchers for the cinema, bowling, laser tag and play centres.

This approach ensures every child has the chance to succeed and improvements in attendance are always celebrated.

The 95 Club

Our 95 Club celebrates children who attend school 95% of the time or more.

This initiative was suggested by our School Council and Rights Respecting Ambassadors, ensuring that pupil voice is at the heart of our attendance work.

Children in the 95 Club are:

• Celebrated in assemblies
• Recognised through classroom and school displays
• Awarded termly badges or rewards

We recognise that 100% attendance is not always possible due to illness. The focus is on consistency, not perfection. If your child is just below 95%, they are ‘on their way’, and can work their way into the club by attending regularly, and improvements are always celebrated.

Pupil Attendance Champions

Our Pupil Attendance Champions help promote a positive attendance culture by:

• Encouraging classmates to attend every day
• Sharing pupil views with staff
• Acting as positive role models
• Supporting attendance events and campaigns

This helps make attendance a shared responsibility across our school community.

Reporting Absence Due to Illness

If your child is unwell and cannot attend school, please report their absence each day by contacting the school office on 0161 681 2779 before 8:45am.

You can:

• Leave a message on the absence line (available 24 hours a day), or
• Speak directly to a member of staff

When reporting absence, please provide the specific reason for illness, rather than saying “unwell”. This helps us to:

• Monitor illnesses or viruses circulating in school
• Meet Public Health reporting requirements
• Protect children and staff who may be more vulnerable

It is the parent/carer’s responsibility to inform school of absence. Prompt communication also helps us avoid calling home and disturbing a child who may be resting.

The guidance below from UK Health helps families decide when children should stay at home due to illness, and when they are well enough to return to school.

Medical Appointments

Where possible, appointments should be arranged outside school hours.

If this is not possible:

• Please inform the school in advance
• Evidence of the appointment may be requested
• Children should return to school as soon as possible

Attendance Support – How We Help

If a child’s attendance begins to cause concern, we focus on early, supportive intervention. This may include:

• Friendly check‑ins and encouragement
• Meetings with parents/carers to understand any barriers
• Named adults to provide additional support
• Pastoral, nurture or wellbeing provision
• Working with external professionals where appropriate

Our aim is always to reduce or remove barriers, not to blame anyone.

Worries or Anxiety About School

It is normal for children to feel worried at times. However, when worries feel overwhelming, they may begin to affect attendance.

If you feel your child is struggling, please contact our Pupil and Family Support Coordinator, Mrs Wolfenden, who can offer advice, reassurance and practical support. She can be contacted via Class Dojo or contact@christtheking.manchester.sch.uk.

Further support for families is also available from Manchester City Council here.  Early support can make a big difference.

Attendance Spotlight Support

Some children require more personalised attendance support. This may include:

• A named adult who checks in regularly
• Tailored support plans
• Close partnership working with families

Progress is reviewed regularly to ensure support is effective and appropriate.

Holidays During Term Time

Holidays during term time are not authorised and may result in a fixed penalty notice being issued by the Local Authority. Any fine issued is paid directly to the Local Authority, not to the school.

We appreciate families informing us in advance of any planned absences. This helps us avoid unnecessary follow‑up, including home visits, which can sometimes place strain on school‑home relationships.

If you do plan to take a holiday during term time, please contact the School Office in advance.

Home Visits and Safeguarding

Attendance is closely linked to safeguarding. If a child is absent without explanation, we are required to follow up to ensure they are safe. This may include phone calls, or, where necessary, a home visit.

Prompt communication with school helps us avoid unnecessary checks and supports positive partnerships with families.

How Parents and Carers Can Help

You can support good attendance by:

• Ensuring your child attends school every day and arrives on time
• Establishing calm morning and bedtime routines
• Talking positively about school
• Avoiding term‑time holidays
• Letting us know early if any difficulties arise 

Attendance Policy

Our full Attendance Policy, including detailed procedures and statutory guidance, can be found here:

https://www.christtheking.manchester.sch.uk/school-info/school-policies

Need Support or Advice?

If you have concerns about attendance or punctuality, please contact us – we are here to help.