Children should have 95% attendance or above - if attendance drops below this, then their education may suffer, and they may find it more difficult to make lasting friendships.

If your child has 95% attendance, they have missed ten whole school days. That's ten phonics sessions, ten maths lessons and 30 playtimes with their friends.

If your child has 90% attendance, they have missed twenty whole school days. That's twenty phonics lessons, twenty maths lessons and about 60 playtimes with their friends.

Lost days do make a difference - one or two odd days off add up over a school year.

Forms for requesting an absence from school for your child should be completed by the Parent/Guardian and forwarded to the school office not less than one month prior to the period of absence.