--- title: "Attendance" url: "https://blessedjohnduckett.bhcet.org.uk/parents/attendance" school: "Blessed John Duckett Catholic Primary School" --- **Tel:** 01388 731082 **Email:** office@blessedjohnduckett.bhcet.org.uk # Attendance ### Attendance **Attending school is very important!** If your child is absent, you must: - Contact school either via email or phone call or leave an absence voicemail on each day of absence before 8.30am and provide reasons for absence. - Keep school informed on a regular basis if your child is absent for a long period of time Failure to do these things may result in your child's absence being unauthorised. Unauthorised absences can be recorded on the register when there is no valid reason for absences, a holiday not approved by the school, lateness after the registers closes or illness without medical evidence. Your child must attend school every day. Children who are regularly absent from school miss out on opportunities which can affect their life-long chances. If you have any concerns about your child's attendance, please contact school, so we can work together to improve the situation. The government threshold of acceptable attendance is 96% **Persistent Absence** If your child's attendance falls to 90% or below, this is considered by Government to be persistent absence. Where attendance falls below 90% and there are unauthorised absences, this may result in a referral to the Local Authority for enforcement action. **Lateness** School starts at 9am, your child will receive a late mark if they arrive after this time. The register closes at 93.0am, if your child arrives after this time, they will receive an unauthorised absence mark. Being late can: - Disrupt lessons/other children - Affect achievement - Embarrass/upset your child Being late adds up to loss of learning: - 5 minutes late every day adds up to 3 days lost each year - 10 minutes adds up to 6 days lost each year - 15 minutes adds up to 10 days lost each year - 20 minutes adds up to 13 days lost each year - 30 minutes adds up to 19 days lost each year ##### **Being on time means not missing out!** **Medical Appointments** If it is possible, any appointments should be made out of school time. If this is not possible, your child should miss the minimum amount of school time necessary. If your child is well enough to go back to school following the appointment, they should do so. Medical appointment slips should be provided to school where possible. **Medical Evidence** If you are asked for medical evidence you will need to provide copies of G.P appointment cards or letters, medication details or other relevant information **Holidays/Leave of Absence** Please complete a 'request of leave of absence in term time' form for holidays or leave of absence in advance. Unauthorised leave may result in a Fixed Penalty Notice (fine) or court prosecution. [Attendance Leaflet - 2026-27](https://blessedjohnduckett.bhcet.org.uk/files/Attendance_Leaflet_-_2026_2027.pdf) [Leave of Absence in Term Time Request Form](https://blessedjohnduckett.bhcet.org.uk/files/Leave_of_Absence_(LOA)_Request_Form.pdf) [Leave of Absence FAQ](https://blessedjohnduckett.bhcet.org.uk/files/Leave_of_Absence_FAQ-s.docx) ### PARENTS & PUPILS - [Our School](https://blessedjohnduckett.bhcet.org.uk/termdates) - [Nursery](https://blessedjohnduckett.bhcet.org.uk/nursery) - [School App](https://blessedjohnduckett.bhcet.org.uk/school-app) - [Term Dates](https://blessedjohnduckett.bhcet.org.uk/termdates) - [School Meals](https://blessedjohnduckett.bhcet.org.uk/parents/school-meals) - [Wrap Around Care](https://blessedjohnduckett.bhcet.org.uk/parents/breakfast-club) - [School Uniform](https://blessedjohnduckett.bhcet.org.uk/parents/school-uniform) - [The School Day](https://blessedjohnduckett.bhcet.org.uk/the-school-day) - [Attendance](https://blessedjohnduckett.bhcet.org.uk/parents/attendance) - [Transition](https://blessedjohnduckett.bhcet.org.uk/transition) - [Key Documents](https://blessedjohnduckett.bhcet.org.uk/about-us/safeguarding) - [Curriculum](https://blessedjohnduckett.bhcet.org.uk/curriculum/curriculum-and-subject-areas) - [News, Events and Communication](https://blessedjohnduckett.bhcet.org.uk/news-events-and-communication/our-news) ![Blessed John Duckett Catholic Primary School](https://files.schudio.com/blessed-john-duckett-catholic-primary-school/images/logo/Bishop_Hogarth_and_Hexham_Logo_new_(1).png) ### Blessed John Duckett Catholic Primary School Smith Street Tow Law Bishop Auckland County Durham DL13 4AU 01388 731082 - [Online Payments](https://www.mychildatschool.com/MCAS/MCSParentLogin) - [Teams FAQ](https://bhcet.org.uk/information/teams-faqs/) - [Office 365](https://outlook.office365.com/carmel.org.uk) - [Remote Access](https://remote.carmel.org.uk/) - [Liturgy](https://liturgy.bhcet.org.uk/) ### Social Media - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/blessedjohnduckett) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/blessedjohnduckett/) ### Translation ### Office 365 [Sign in to Office 365](https://outlook.office.com/) © Copyright 2025–2026 Blessed John Duckett Catholic Primary School School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://blessedjohnduckett.bhcet.org.uk/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)