Attendance
*This page is currently being updated*
SCHOOL SESSION TIMES
SCHOOL OPEN TO CHILDREN: 8:30am
SCHOOL STARTS: 8:50am
SCHOOL ENDS (for all year groups): 3:20pm
Total school hours per week: 32.5
Term Dates 2026-2027
Term 1
Tuesday 1st September 2026 - Friday 16th October 2026
Term 2
Monday 2nd November 2026 - Friday 18th December 2026
Term 3
Tuesday 5th January 2027 - Friday 12th February
Term 4
Monday 22nd February 2027 - Thursday 25th March 2027
Term 5
Monday 12th April 2027 - Friday 28th May 2027
Term 6
Monday 7th June 2027 - Wednesday 21st July 2027

Frequent absences may make it harder for your child to maintain friendships. If your child is often absent, the chances are that they will be slipping behind their friends academically - it will be very difficult to catch them up. Pupils who are late disrupt not only their own learning but the learning of others.
Please help us to help your child by sending them to school - we want to make sure that your child has the best possible chance of success!
TOP TIPS
Make sure your child understands that good school attendance is important to you
Take an active interest in your child’s school work If your child makes excuses to try to avoid coming to school, listen carefully and contact the school if you feel we can help
Arrange for doctor and dentist appointments to be after school or in the holidays
Contact the school immediately if your child is unwell
Talk to us before booking holidays in term time - it may not be in your child’s interest to miss school!
Please read the school’s Attendance Policy on the school website for more detailed information.
THANK YOU to all parents and carers who support their child’s good attendance and punctuality!
A true partnership between home and school is vital to good attendance and we appreciate your support.
At Birchington CE Primary School we expect good attendance and punctuality - just like at secondary school, university or college and in the workplace. Our aim is for 100% attendance and punctuality.
We believe that good attendance gives children every opportunity to influence their future quality of life and reach their full potential. It is a proven fact that attendance is closely linked to achievement. The better your child's attendance, the better their grades are. This gives them more choices as they get older. Good attendance helps children in developing friendships and punctuality is an important life skill to learn from an early age. It is habit forming and shows commitment to the importance of working and learning.
Mrs Searle is our Attendance Officer. You will see her in the main office every morning from 8.30am if your child is late or you need to talk to her. A member of the Pastoral team can also meet you there. There is lots we have on offer to support families with improving attendance, so please do pop along for a chat.
We set a very high bar for attendance because we want the very best for your child. If, despite the outstanding support we provide, your child does not attend school regularly and on time we will have no choice but pursue further action with the Local Authority.

NHS Guidance: Is my child too ill for school? - NHS (www.nhs.uk)