Attendance

Good attendance is essential in order for teaching and learning to be effective and for children to thrive. 


Ralph Butterfield Primary School understands that barriers to attendance can be complex, and that some children find it harder than others to attend school; therefore, we prioritise cultivating a safe and supportive environment at school, as well as establishing and maintaining strong and trusting relationships with children and parents/carers. 


We take a whole-school approach to securing good attendance, and recognise the impact that our efforts in other areas – such as the curriculum, behaviour standards, bullying, SEND support, pastoral support, and the effective use of resources such as pupil premium – can have on improving pupil attendance. 


We are committed to:

  • Promoting and modelling high attendance and its benefits. 

  • Ensuring equality and fairness for all.

  • Ensuring this attendance policy is clear and easily understood by staff, pupils and parents/carers.

  • Intervening early and working with other agencies to ensure the health and safety of our pupils.

  • Building strong relationships with families to overcome barriers to attendance.

  • Working collaboratively with other schools in the area, as well as other agencies.

  • Ensuring parents/carers follow the framework set in section 7 of the Education Act 1996, which states that the parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause them to receive efficient full-time education suitable to their age, ability and aptitude, and to any SEND they may have, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.

  • Ensuring our attendance policy is clear and easily understood by all staff, parents/carers and pupils.

  • Regularly monitoring and analysing attendance and absence data to identify pupils or cohorts that require more support. 


The school’s attendance lead is Mrs Helen Stephenson, and can be contacted via the school office either by telephoning 01904 768325 (option 3) or by emailing ralphbutterfield.school@york.gov.uk. Staff, parents/carers and children will be expected to contact the attendance lead for queries or concerns about attendance.

For additional information, please visit https://www.york.gov.uk/SchoolAttendance and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-improve-school-attendance 

Click here to view our Attendance Policy

Local Authority School Attendance The Fast Track Process
"Thank you all so much for trying to make this strange year as normal and as happy as possible for the children in your school."
Parent