Attendance at Llanedeyrn Primary School
Every day counts. Every child matters.
Inclusive Attendance
Letter to parents and carers
Working together to support every child’s attendance.
Dear Parents and Carers,
At Llanedeyrn Primary School we want every child to feel that they belong here, that they are cared for and that school is a place where they can succeed. Good attendance is a key part of this, but we also know that there are often very real reasons why it can be difficult for some children to attend every day.
We are pleased to let you know that we are taking part in the Inclusive Attendance approach. This is a way of working that focuses on relationships, understanding and early support. Instead of looking only at attendance percentages, we talk with you and your child to understand what is happening and how we can help.
Inclusive Attendance encourages us to:
- listen carefully to children and families about what is making attendance harder
- work together to agree small, realistic steps to improve things
- look at the whole picture, including health, well-being, additional learning needs and family circumstances
- celebrate improvements, even when progress is gradual
We will continue to monitor attendance, but any conversations we have will focus on support rather than blame. If we are worried about your child’s attendance, we will contact you to talk things through and to explore what might help. Likewise, if you are finding it difficult to get your child into school, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can work with you.
Our aim is to make sure that every child at Llanedeyrn Primary School feels safe, included and ready to learn, and that no family feels alone in tackling attendance difficulties.
Thank you for your continued support.
Yours sincerely,
The Headteacher and Attendance Team
Llanedeyrn Primary School
Inclusive Attendance – family information
You can find out more about Inclusive Attendance in the short guide below.
Our Vision for Attendance
At Llanedeyrn Primary School, we believe that every day in school matters and that attendance is everyone’s responsibility.
We aim to create a culture where all pupils feel safe, valued and included, so that they want to come to school, learn and thrive.
Our Vision
- Every child feels a strong sense of belonging in our School and community.
- Families are partners in improving attendance, supported with empathy and understanding.
- Staff are proactive in identifying patterns and responding early to barriers.
- Systems are used intelligently, balancing high expectations with care and flexibility.
- Attendance is part of our whole-school approach to well-being, inclusion and equity.
Why Attendance Matters
Miss School… Miss Out
- Disruption to learning: Missing days makes it harder to keep up.
- Social isolation: Friendships and routines are interrupted.
- Anxiety and stress: Falling behind can affect confidence and well-being.
Attendance Matters
A whole year has 365 days. A school year has only 190 days, leaving 175 days to spend on family time, visits, holidays, birthday treats, dentist and hospital appointments.
90% attendance is equal to 1 day off each fortnight.
| 100% | 90% | 80% |
|---|---|---|
|
Very Good Best chance of success. Gets your child off to a flying start. |
Worrying Less chance of success. Makes it harder for your child to make progress. |
Serious Concern Your child will find it difficult to make progress, learn new skills and build social networks. |
| Attendance during one school year | Equals approximate days absence | Which is approximately weeks absence | Which is approximately lessons missed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95% | 9 days | 2 weeks | 40 lessons |
| 90% | 19 days | 4 weeks | 80 lessons |
| 85% | 29 days | 6 weeks | 120 lessons |
| 80% | 28 days | 8 weeks | 160 lessons |
| 75% | 48 days | 10 weeks | 200 lessons |
| 70% | 57 days | 11½ weeks | 230 lessons |
| 65% | 67 days | 13½ weeks | 270 lessons |
Avoid Term-Time Holidays
- Term-time holidays disrupt learning and routines.
- Children may struggle emotionally or socially when returning.
- The Local Authority may issue Fixed Penalty Notices.
Attendance Posters
These posters are used across our School to share key messages about attendance with pupils and families.
Watch Our Attendance Video
This short video, created with our primary cluster, explains why attendance is so important and how we can work together to support every child.
Documents and Policies
You can read more about our approach to attendance and how we work with families in the documents below.