Queen'scroft High School

Attendance Information

At Queen’s Croft School, attendance is a key part of our GREAT culture. We believe that every day in school matters and that strong attendance supports not only academic progress but also wellbeing, relationships and long-term success.

We are proud of the progress we have made together with our families.

  • Our overall attendance is 89%, which is 2–3% higher than other special schools nationally
  • Our persistent absence is significantly lower than other special schools nationally (by around 5%)
  • Attendance for non-disadvantaged pupils is 91.06%
  • Attendance for pupils eligible for pupil premium is 88.19%, with only a small gap

We continue to have high aspirations and are working towards attendance levels in line with mainstream secondary schools.

How we monitor and support attendance

Attendance is carefully monitored every day to ensure pupils are safe, supported and able to attend school regularly.

  • We use SIMS to track attendance daily
  • Our Family Liaison Officer, Ellie Sargent, leads attendance, with strategic oversight from Sam Wood, Co-Headteacher
  • We carry out first-day contact where a reason for absence has not been received
  • Home visits and safe and well checks may take place where needed
  • Attendance is reviewed regularly to identify patterns early and provide support

We celebrate attendance at every opportunity. This includes:

  • Weekly and termly recognition
  • Rewards for most improved attendance as well as high attendance
  • Class and individual celebrations as part of our GREAT culture

We understand that many of our pupils have additional needs, including medical appointments, so we recognise progress and improvement, not just 100% attendance. 

 

What to do if your child is absent

If your child is unable to attend school:

  • Please contact the school office by 9:20am on the first day of absence
  • You should provide a reason for the absence
  • We ask that you maintain contact each day your child is absent

If we do not receive a reason:

  • We will contact you to check on your child’s safety
  • A home visit may be carried out if we are unable to make contact

For planned absences (such as medical appointments):

  • Please inform the school in advance
  • Wherever possible, appointments should be made outside of school hours

Full details can be found in our Attendance Policy.

How we work with families to remove barriers to attendance

We know that attendance is not always straightforward, particularly for pupils with additional needs. Our approach is supportive, understanding and tailored to each family.

We work closely with parents and carers to:

  • Understand the reasons behind absence
  • Identify and remove barriers to attendance
  • Put support in place that meets individual needs

Support may include:

  • Regular communication with our Family Liaison Officer
  • Meetings to agree next steps and set achievable goals
  • Emotional and pastoral support for pupils
  • Collaboration with external professionals where appropriate

Every child is different, and support is always discussed and agreed in partnership with families.

 

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Key attendance processes and guidance

We have clear expectations to support strong attendance:

  • We aim for 100% attendance unless a pupil is unwell or there are exceptional circumstances
  • Pupils should arrive on time each day, ready to learn
  • Absence is monitored closely, and early support is put in place where needed

Where attendance becomes a concern:

  • We will contact families to discuss and offer support
  • Meetings may be arranged to agree next steps
  • Additional support plans may be put in place

We always aim to work positively with families, taking a supportive and relational approach while maintaining high expectations.

Termly attendance updates

Spring Term 2026

We are proud to share that attendance at Queen’s Croft continues to improve:

  • Whole school attendance remains strong at 89%
  • Persistent absence remains low compared to special schools nationally at 25%
  • Pupils across all key stages have shown positive improvements in attendance
  • The gap between pupil groups remains small

This term, we have:

  • Celebrated pupils with the most improved attendance
  • Recognised classes with strong weekly attendance
  • Continued to work closely with families to support individual needs

Thank you to all parents and carers for your ongoing support. Strong attendance is a shared success, and we value the partnership we have with our families.

Further Information

You can view our full Attendance Policy here:
https://www.queenscroft.staffs.sch.uk/Policies/

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