Attendance & Punctuality 

Every Day Counts 

At Ellesmere Port Church of England College, we believe that excellent attendance and punctuality are essential to academic success, personal development and future opportunities. 

Our vision is: “To act justly, to love with mercy and to walk humbly with our God.” (Micah 6:8) 

We work closely with students, families and external agencies to ensure every child attends school regularly and is supported to overcome any barriers to attendance. We expect 100% attendance, although we understand there are times that students are unwell. Once a student’s attendance drops below 97%, you will be contacted by school. 

Why Attendance Matters 

Research consistently shows that pupils with high attendance achieve better outcomes. 

Poor attendance can have a significant impact on learning: 

AttendanceÂ	Days AbsentÂ	Lessons MissedÂ
95%Â	9 daysÂ	50 lessonsÂ
90%Â	19 daysÂ	100 lessonsÂ
85%Â	29 daysÂ	150 lessonsÂ
80%Â	38 daysÂ	200 lessonsÂ

Regular attendance helps pupils to: 

• Achieve their full academic potential 

• Develop positive habits and routines 

• Build strong friendships and relationships 

• Participate fully in school life 

• Prepare for future education, training and employment 

Registration Times 

Students should arrive in school ready for the start of the day. 

Morning Registration 

• Opens: 8:30am 

• Closes: 9:00am 

Afternoon Registration 

Taken during Academic Review: 

• Years 7, 9 and 11: 12:00pm – 12:30pm 

• Years 8, 10 and Sixth Form: 12:30pm – 1:00pm 

Registers are taken twice daily in line with statutory requirements.  

Reporting Absence 

If your child is unwell and unable to attend school, parents/carers should: 

• Contact school on the first day of absence 

• Continue to notify school on each subsequent day of absence 

• Provide a clear reason for the absence 

If no reason is received, school will contact parents/carers to establish why a student is absent.  

Contact Us 

Attendance Line: 0151 350 6000 (Option 1) 

Please leave: 

• Student name 

• Date of birth 

• Tutor group (if known) 

• Reason for absence 

 

Medical Appointments and Illness 

Whenever possible, routine medical and dental appointments should be arranged outside school hours. 

If an appointment must take place during the school day: 

• Parents should notify school in advance. 

• Students should attend school before and/or after their appointment whenever possible. 

• Evidence of appointments may be requested. 

For repeated or prolonged medical absence, school may request reasonable medical evidence such as: 

• Appointment confirmations 

• Prescription information 

• Hospital letters 

• Medical correspondence 

The school will take a flexible and supportive approach when considering medical evidence. 

 

Attendance Support 

We are committed to working with families to improve attendance wherever concerns arise. 

Early Intervention 

Attendance is monitored closely and concerns are identified early. 

Where attendance begins to decline, support may include: 

• Attendance monitoring 

• Parent communication 

• Attendance meetings 

• Individual attendance plans 

• Support from pastoral staff 

• Referrals to appropriate support services 

Students whose attendance falls below expected levels may be supported through our staged attendance process.  

 

Persistent Absence 

The Department for Education defines Persistent Absence as attendance below 90%. 

Where attendance falls below expected levels, parents may be invited to attend meetings with school leaders to agree strategies and support. 

Our approach is always: 

Support First 

We seek to: 

• Understand barriers to attendance 

• Work with families 

• Remove obstacles preventing attendance 

• Provide appropriate interventions and support 

 

Leave of Absence During Term Time 

The law does not permit schools to authorise holidays during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. 

The following are not normally considered exceptional circumstances: 

• Family holidays 

• Lower holiday costs outside school holidays 

• Availability of accommodation 

• Parental work commitments 

• Holidays arranged by other family members 

Requests for exceptional leave must be made in writing to the Head of School in advance. Each request is considered individually.  

 

Penalty Notices 

The national threshold for considering a Penalty Notice is: 

10 sessions of unauthorised absence within a rolling 10 school week period. 

Where appropriate and after support has been offered, the Local Authority may issue a Penalty Notice. 

Current penalties are: 

First Penalty Notice 

• £80 per parent if paid within 21 days 

• £160 per parent if paid within 28 days 

Further legal action may be considered if penalties remain unpaid.   

 

Punctuality 

Being on time is an important part of good attendance. 

Poor punctuality can result in students: 

• Missing important learning 

• Missing key instructions 

• Falling behind in lessons 

• Developing poor habits for future employment 

Lost Learning Through Lateness 

Late Each DayÂ	Teaching Time Lost Per YearÂ
5 minutesÂ	3.4 daysÂ
10 minutesÂ	6.9 daysÂ
15 minutesÂ	10.3 daysÂ
20 minutesÂ	13.8 daysÂ
30 minutesÂ	20.7 daysÂ

  

Late Arrival Procedures 

Students arriving after 8:30am should enter through the main reception and sign in. 

• Students arriving before registers close will receive a late mark. 

• Students arriving after the register closes may receive a U code unless there is an authorised reason. 

• Parents will be notified of lateness. 

• Persistent lateness may result in further intervention and support. 

 

Attendance Contacts 

Senior Attendance Champion: Mr S Murphy, Head of School 

Attendance Officer: Ms L Symington 

Education Welfare Officer: Ms S Fties 

Email: info@epcollege.org 

Telephone: 0151 350 6000