Attendance Matters: Working Together for Every Child’s Success
At Silverwood school, we are committed to supporting the unique needs of every learner. We understand that many of our pupils face complex challenges, and we are here to work in partnership with families to ensure every child can achieve their full potential. A key part of this is regular and consistent school attendance.
Why Attendance Matters
For children with SEND, routine, structure, and consistency are essential. Attending school regularly helps pupils:
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Develop social skills and positive peer relationships
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Access specialised teaching, therapies, and support services
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Make steady progress towards their learning and personal development goals
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Build resilience and emotional confidence through consistent routines
Even occasional absences can disrupt this progress and make it harder for children to re-engage with learning and daily routines.
Let’s Work Together
Your child’s well-being is our shared priority. We want every child to feel safe, included, and valued in school. By working together, we can help them develop the skills and confidence they need for the future.
If you have concerns about your child’s attendance or would like support, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here to help.
Our Commitment to You
Every ½ day absence from school, by law, must be classified as either authorised or unauthorised. Therefore, information about the cause of absence is always asked for.
Authorised absences are mornings or afternoons away from school for a good reason such as illness, medical appointments and emergencies.
An absence is classified as unauthorised, if the reason was not recognised as acceptable by the school. The Department for Education (DfE) and Local Education Authorities provide information for schools as what is acceptable and what is not.
What We Ask of You
We ask that parents and carers:
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Prioritise school attendance as far as your child’s needs allow
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Contact the school as early as possible on the morning of any absence
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Work closely with us if attendance becomes difficult for your child
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Provide medical evidence where appropriate for ongoing or frequent absences
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Avoid taking holidays during term time
What should I do if my child is absent from school?
When absence is unavoidable, please let us know if your child is:
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Unwell or unable to attend due to a medical issue
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Attending a medical appointment (please try to book outside school hours where possible)
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Struggling emotionally or with anxiety about coming to school — we can help!
Our tutors, inclusion team, SENCOs and Family School support Worker are all here to listen, support, and work together with you to find a way forward.
Absence needs to be reported to Silverwood by 9.30am.
Understanding types of absence
Every ½ day absence from school, by law, must be classified as either authorised or unauthorised. Therefore, information about the cause of absence is always asked for.
Authorised absences are mornings or afternoons away from school for a good reason such as illness, medical appointments and emergencies.
An absence is classified as unauthorised, if the reason was not recognised as acceptable by the school. The Department for Education (DfE) and Local Education Authorities provide information for schools as what is acceptable and what is not.
Examples of reasons that would not be accepted:
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A birthday
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A shopping trip
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Day trips
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Holidays – unless have been agreed as exceptional circumstances
Relevant Forms & Documents
Leave of Absence Form:
Penalty Notices For Unauthorised Leave of Absence During Term Time Leaflet:
Holidays In Term Time
Wiltshire Local Authority have made some big changes to the way they are processing Holidays in term time.
They have clarified with schools that “Holidays should not be taken in term time”. They have further described that any circumstance which is for “leisure” should not be authorised by the school.
Exceptional Circumstances are defined by Wiltshire as:
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the death or terminal illness of a person in the immediate family
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service personnel who cannot take leave outside term time at any point in the academic year.
Please note: Family holidays are not considered to be an exceptional circumstance. This includes the reason of “going on holiday when it is quiet”.
Wiltshire Council will also automatically process a Penalty notice for any family taking an unauthorised holiday in term time. To avoid disappointment and a large fine, please do not book any holidays within school term.