Why is it so important for my child to attend school?

If a child of compulsory school age is registered at a school, it is essential that they attend their school regularly and maintain a pattern of good attendance throughout their school career.

Excellent attendance at school is important to allow a child or young person to fulfil their potential and build social, emotional and educational resilience whilst having the opportunity to have the unique life experiences being a military child has to offer.

Below are just some of the key reasons why it is so important children attend school:

• To learn
• To have fun
• To develop new skills
• To make new friends
• To have the best possible start in life
• To develop awareness of other cultures, religion, ethnicity, and gender differences
• To achieve
• To experience new things in life
• To build confidence and self-esteem
• To gain opportunities to better understand the world around them

DCS believe it is crucial that no military child is disadvantaged by accompanying their Service parent or entitled civilian overseas. We see it as a unique life opportunity and are proud to Educate the Child, Support the Family and Defend the Nation.

Attendance & Mobility

DCS Schools and Settings work with parents to ensure 100% attendance for all children wherever possible. When a child transfers schools regularly, small attendance gaps can become large learning gaps which may effect your child later in their educational journey.

The DCS Attendance Directive (under construction) will provide you with more information surrounding attendance and the processes our leaders follow to ensure full attendance by all children.

Attendance Matters and Absence from School During Term Time are parental leaflets you can download for more information and guidance.

Exceptional Leave

The DfE makes it very clear that the Head Teacher may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. The Head Teacher should also determine the number of school days a child can be away from school if the leave is granted.

The parameters around exceptional circumstances are as follows:

• If a parent is a Service Person returning from a tour of duty abroad where it is evidenced, the individual will not be in receipt of any leave in the near future that coincides with school holidays. 
• Where an absence from school is recommended by a health professional as part of a parent or child’s rehabilitation from a medical or emotional issue. 
• The death or terminal illness of a close relative, only if Head Teacher is satisfied that the circumstances are truly exceptional.
• Out of school programmes such as music, arts or sport operating at a high standard of achievement.
• Religious observance – The Education Act 1996 S444(3) (c), states ‘’on any day exclusively set apart for religious observance by the religious body to which his/her parent belongs’’.
• To attend a wedding or funeral of a close relative if the Head Teacher is satisfied that the circumstances are truly exceptional.

Examples of circumstances not considered as exceptional

• Holidays or visits abroad for the purpose of visiting a sick relative, excepting where that person is seriously ill.
• Holidays taken in term time due to lower cost and / or parental work commitments.

If you are thinking about taking leave outside of a school’s planned holidays and you believe that you meet the parameters listed as exceptional leave, please contact the school office for an official leave request form.

Please note that if you take your child out of school for leave during term time and you do not have permission from the Head Teacher to do so, it will be recorded as unauthorised absence.

Useful Resources

• DCS Attendance Matters Leaflet

• DCS Absence from school during term time Parent Information Leaflet

• DCS Attendance Charter (This file will automatically download)

• Working together to improve school attendance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• The School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024 (legislation.gov.uk)

• Children missing education – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• Is my child too ill for school? – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

• Supporting pupils with medical conditions at school – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Forms

• Education Welfare Request for support Form (This form will automatically download)

If you are worried about your child/ren’s school attendance please speak to the schools Attendance Lead or Head Teacher as soon as possible. The Education Welfare Service can also accept self-referrals. If you would like to self-refer for support from one of our Education Welfare Officers, please complete this form and send to [email protected]