Attendance & Absence

We are READY to learn – we arrive at school on time, we have our equipment ready and we show that we are listening.

We are RESPECTFUL – we listen when others speak and we respect the property of our friends and the school.

We are SAFE – we move around school in a safe manner, we follow instructions to keep ourselves safe on school trips, we use equipment safely and we stay safe online.

The staff and governors are committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to achieve their full potential and are confident that parents and carers share this commitment. Regular attendance at school is essential to enable children to make the most of their skills, talents and learning opportunities.

When children miss school, their learning is disrupted, making it more difficult for them to keep up with lessons, develop friendships and reach their full potential. Middleton Primary School therefore strongly encourages parents and carers to avoid booking holidays during term time, as absence from school can have a significant impact on a child's education.

Term-Time Leave of Absence

Government regulations state that schools may only grant leave of absence during term time in exceptional circumstances.

Family holidays should therefore be taken during the school holidays. Requests for leave during term time must be submitted in writing to the Headteacher in advance and will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.

Where a child is taken out of school for a family holiday without authorisation for five or more consecutive school days, the school will refer the parent(s)/carer(s) to the Local Authority for consideration of a Penalty Notice (Fixed Penalty Fine), in line with the Local Authority's Code of Conduct.

For further details on attendance please view Milton Keynes City Council's website

Whilst the school fully understands that holidays can be cheaper during term-time, the long term cost to pupils may well be considerably greater than any short term financial savings. However, absence for participation in sporting events, family events (e.g. weddings of a very close family member, religious celebrations, graduations etc.) and for compassionate reasons will be considered on an individual basis and may be authorised.

When a child is absent through illness, parents are asked to inform the school during the first day of absence, by logging on the Arbor app or leaving a voicemail message on the school telephone number (01908 604851) Option 1, before 9.00am. Please keep us informed of the progress of the illness and the likely length of absence. If we are not informed of the reason for absence, the register is marked as an ‘unauthorised absence’.

Middleton School expect every pupil’s attendance to be above 97%.

Parents will be notified if attendance falls below 96%.

Attendance Policy June 2026