Attendance

Inclusive Attendance

Attendance is about much more than being present

Introduction

At Ysgol Sŵn y Don, we believe that every child deserves to feel safe, valued, included and supported to attend school successfully. Attendance is about much more than being present. Regular attendance helps children build friendships, develop confidence, access learning opportunities and feel part of our school community.

We recognise that attendance can be affected by a range of factors, including health and wellbeing, anxiety, family circumstances and additional learning needs. When concerns arise, we work alongside children, families and professionals to understand barriers, identify solutions and provide support.

Our Inclusive Attendance Approach

Our attendance work is guided by the principles of Inclusive Attendance.

This means:

  • Children are at the centre of everything we do.
  • We focus on belonging, relationships and positive engagement.
  • We seek to understand barriers to attendance.
  • We work in partnership with families.
  • We provide support that matches individual needs.
  • We celebrate progress, achievement and success.
  • We promote a culture where attendance is everyone’s responsibility.

A Graduated Approach to Support

We use a graduated approach to attendance support, ensuring that help is available at the right time and at the appropriate level.

This includes:

Universal Support for All

Promoting positive attendance through strong relationships, an inclusive school culture and high-quality teaching and learning experiences.

Additional Support When Needed

Providing early help when attendance concerns begin to emerge.

Individualised Support

Working with families and professionals to provide more targeted support where attendance difficulties become more complex.

By identifying concerns early, we aim to prevent small attendance difficulties from becoming bigger barriers to learning and wellbeing.

Working Together

Supporting attendance is a shared responsibility.

Strong partnerships between children, families, school staff and external professionals help us provide the best possible support.

Together we:

  • Understand barriers
  • Find solutions
  • Provide support
  • Celebrate progress
  • Improve outcomes

Recognition and Encouragement

We believe that positive recognition helps children develop positive attendance habits and a strong sense of belonging.

Our recognition systems celebrate:

  • Excellent attendance
  • Improved attendance
  • Positive routines
  • Resilience and perseverance
  • Positive engagement in school life
  • Individual achievements
  • Whole-class attendance success

Every step forward matters.

Why Attendance Matters

Regular attendance helps children to:

Friendships

Build and maintain positive relationships.

Confidence

Develop independence and self-belief.

Learning

Access learning opportunities consistently.

Wellbeing

Feel safe, supported and connected.

Brighter Futures

Develop the skills needed for life and future success.

Every day in school creates opportunities to learn, grow and thrive. Missing even a small number of days can make it harder for children to access these opportunities consistently.

Attendance is Everyone’s Responsibility

We believe that children attend, engage and thrive when they:

  • Feel safe.
  • Feel valued.
  • Feel included.
  • Feel supported.
  • Experience a sense of belonging.

By working together, we can create the conditions that help every child attend, belong, achieve and thrive.