Welcome to our Attendance page. At Donnington Wood CE Junior School, we believe every day matters. We know that regular and punctual attendance helps children thrive—academically, socially, and spiritually. Rooted in our Christian values of hope, friendship, and perseverance, we encourage every child to be ready to learn, respectful of others, and safe in their environment. We also understand that everyone needs support at times; further information about the help we offer can be found on our Early Help page. If in doubt, please contact Mrs Payne (Attendance Officer) and/or Miss Ganderton.
Please note: In August 2024, the Government introduced significant changes to how schools manage unauthorised absence. Our policies have been updated to reflect these changes—click on the arrows below to find the information you need. For further information about these changes, please see the following document Working Together To Improve School Attendance 2024
Attendance Policy
The School Day
The School Day Our school day is 8.25am until 2.55pm every day. The school gates open at 8:22 We open both gates (top and bottom gate) at 8:22. Pupils come onto site on their own and will line up outside their classroom. We ask you to ensure that your children do not arrive at school any earlier than this unless they are attending ‘Breakfast Club’. They remain your responsibility until this time.
The register for the first session will be taken at 8:30am and will be kept open until 9:00am (30 minutes after the session begins).
A pupil who arrives late (after 8:30): Before the register has closed (9;00am) will be marked as late, using the appropriate code (L)
After the register has closed (9:00am) will be marked as absent, using the appropriate code (U)- this is an unauthorised absence.
Messages from parents at the start of the day can be passed on via Senior Leaders at the gate, a phone call to the office 01952 386660 or an email to the office – admin@donningtonwood.com.
Lessons formally begin at 8.25am during registration. Gates are closed at 8:30. If your child arrives after this time then you must report to the main office to register before going to class. The lunchtime session begins at 12.15pm & ends at 1.05pm.
The gates will open at 2:50pm to allow parents and carers to enter via the top or bottom gate to collect their children from the classroom doors for 2:55pm. Children in Year 3 and 4 must be brought to school by a responsible adult or trusted person. Year 5 and 6 pupils may walk to and from school, but this is your responsibility.
Reporting Absence
We expect parents to contact the school before 8:25am when their child is absent from, school to explain the reason. You can contact the school office by phone or email: 01952 386660 or admin@donningtonwood.com. If we have had no first day contact, we will try to contact you by using the contacts we have on file to obtain a reason for an unexplained absence and offer any support if required. If absence continues without explanation, further contact will be made to ensure the pupil is safe and well – this may involve a home visit.
We understand there are many reasons why a pupil may not be able to attend school. So that we can manage attendance effectively we rely heavily on our partnership with parents and recognise that issues are less likely to escalate when there is good communication from parents.
The Working together to improve school attendance document published in August 2024 identifies many reasons why pupils may not attend school. Further information can be found in our Attendance Policy on what absence codes are authorised and what absence codes are not authorised. Ultimately, if we do not receive a reason for absence this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.
In August 2024, the Government introduced tougher measures to monitor unauthorised absences. A Summary of these changes can be found here
Other Useful information:
Parents’ responsibilities: What are my responsibilities for my child’s attendance,
Term Dates
Autumn 2026
Autumn 1
PD Day Tuesday 1st September 2026
Children Return 2nd September 2026
Last day of term Thursday 22nd October 2026
PD Day Friday 23rd October 2026
Half term
Monday 26th October 2026 to Friday 30th October 2026
Autumn 2
Monday 2nd November 2026 to Friday 18th December 2026
Spring 2027
Spring 1
PD Day Monday 4th January 2027
Children return Tuesday 5th January 2027
Last day of term 12th February 2027
Half Term
Monday 15th February 2027 to Friday 19th February
Spring 2
Monday 22nd February 2027 to Thursday 25th March 2027
Summer 2027
Summer 1
PD Day Monday 12th April 2027
Children return Tuesday 13th April 2027
Bank Holiday Monday 3rd May 2027
Last Day of term Friday 28th May
Half Term
Monday 31st May 2027 to Friday 4th June 2027
Summer 2
Monday 7th June 2027 to Tuesday 20th July 2027
PD Day Wednesday 21st July 2027
Leave in term time
Term Dates Request for leave in term time Guidance for parents
Attending a medical or dental appointment will be counted as authorised as long as the pupil’s parent notifies the school in advance of the appointment and can provide an appointment card. However, we encourage parents to make medical and dental appointments out of school hours where possible. Where this is not possible, the pupil should be out of school for the minimum amount of time necessary.
Parents wishing the school to consider granting leave in term time should read these notes carefully and then complete and send the request form to the Headteacher. This form should be sent to the school in time for the request to be considered before the desired period of absence. (Parents are strongly advised not to finalise any planned absence before receiving the school’s decision regarding their request). In any event the request form must be received by the school at least four weeks before the leave in term time requested dates to allow sufficient time for appropriate consideration. Leave of absence cannot be authorised retrospectively.
Where a parent has not submitted a request before the absence takes place, the absence will be recorded as
unauthorised. The granting of leave of absence in term time is, by law, a matter for consideration and decision by the Headteacher. There is no automatic entitlement to leave during term time. Each request will be considered individually on its own merits to determine whether exceptional circumstances exist. Generally, the DfE does not consider the need or desire for a holiday or other absence for leisure and recreation to constitute an exceptional circumstance. The Department for Education (DfE) Guidance’ Working Together to Improve School Attendance – amended July 2026 states that: Generally, the DfE does not consider the need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation to be an exceptional circumstance. Telford &
Wrekin Local Authority (LA) policy supports that view. Where such requests are made, the Headteacher should
decide if there are exceptional circumstances before the leave is granted, if the leave is granted the
Headteacher has the discretion to agree the duration of that leave.
Each case will be considered individually and on its own merits. Parents therefore, need to consider very
carefully before making any request for leave in term time, the demands of the National and wider School
Curriculum especially at the Key Stage assessment stage. In considering a request, the school may also take
account of: –
- the exceptional circumstances stated that have given rise to the request;
- whether the child is compulsory school age;
- the stage of the child’s education and progress and the effects of the requested absence on both
elements; - whether the same trip could be taken during the 13 weeks school is closed to pupils?
- students/pupils on examination courses or due to take SATS will not normally be granted leave of
absence.
Where parents have children in more than one school, a separate request must be made to each school. The
Headteacher of each school will make their own decision based on the factors relating to the child at their school. However, there is an expectation that all schools involved will communicate and all agree a decision whether to authorise or not. It is hoped that if this situation arises parents will be persuaded to accept the reasons for refusal given and, thereby, withdraw any leave requests.
Where requests for a grant of leave in term time are received from only one parent the response letter – agreeing or refusing – will be either addressed to both/all parents where they live at the same address or to each where they do not. This is to ensure, particularly in the case of a refusal, that both or all parents are fully aware of the consequences of ignoring a refusal as the refusal letter clearly states that each parent may receive a penalty notice.
Should the school decide to grant the leave. but the child does not return to school at the time s/he was
expected to (i.e. following the expiry of the granted leave in term time period) and, no information is available
to the school to explain/justify the continuing absence or, make known the whereabouts of the child, his/her
place at the school could be lost.
Each application for leave in term time will be considered and if it is agreed and authorised the Headteacher will
determine the duration of any leave. However, if the application is not agreed and the absence occurs the dates
will be unauthorised. Parents will be notified of any decision in writing. This notification may be hand delivered
directly to the parent, emailed to the registered email address of the parent held on school records or posted to
the parents’ home address.
Our expectations
At Donnington Wood Junior School our published admission number is 240. This is made up of 8 Key Stage 2 Classes with up to 30 pupils in each.
At Donnington Wood Junior School, we are committed to ensure pupil’s achieve 95% attendance and above and believe that punctuality and good attendance is crucial for pupils to achieve their god given potential. For your child to reach their full potential is it essential that they have good attendance at school. If they are not here, they miss out on so much, and the greater the absence the harder it is to catch up. Sometimes though, circumstances at home can mean being at school, or being on time for school can be difficult. If this is the situation, please contact us and we will do all we can to support you.
We regularly monitor pupils’ punctuality and attendance and provide support and guidance to parents and pupils to address any concerns identified as quickly as possible.
Children who attend on time each day are entered into a draw to have their lunch on the “Top Table”. They get to choose a friend and have a “Top Table lunch”. Pupils have also decided on weekly, half termly and termly awards to help motivate themselves and their peers to have high attendance.
Attendance Newsletters
First week Back September 2026
Whole School and Class Attendance
Whole school attendance on 11/9/2026 96.9%
Class attendance winners AGAIN with 100% is 3P -This is outstanding work !!
Attendance Support
If you are struggling with any aspect of getting your child to school, please reach out to us. We aspire to high standards of attendance from all pupils and parents and have built a culture where all can, and want to, be in school and ready to learn.
We rigorously use attendance data to identify patterns of poor attendance and have a robust Early Help offer to provide support to families at the time they need it. If we make contact with you about attendance it is because we successfully work with our families to remove barriers in school and help pupils and parents to access support they need to overcome any barriers outside of school. Click here to explore further details of our Early Help offer
Where absence persists and voluntary support is not working or not being engaged with, consequences will be clearly explained to ensure support is in place for families to respond. Depending on the circumstances this may include formalising support through an attendance contract or and education supervision order.
Where all other avenues have been exhausted and support is not working or not being engaged with, enforce attendance through statutory intervention: a penalty notice in line with the National Framework (New in September 2024) or prosecution to protect the pupil’s right to an education.
Donnington Wood Church of England Junior School 