Term Dates & Attendance

Together we Flourish | Aspire • Belong • Care

At Winford Church of England Primary School, we believe that every school day matters. Regular attendance helps children build friendships, develop confidence, enjoy learning and achieve their potential.

Our approach reflects our school values:

Aspire – We encourage every child to make the most of the learning opportunities available to them.
Belong – We want children to feel connected to their friends, their class and our school community.
Care – We work alongside families, recognising individual circumstances and offering support when difficulties arise.

We are committed to working together to ensure that every child feels happy, safe and ready to learn.

School Term Dates 2026–2027

Please find below the dates for the current academic year. The dates shown are the days that school is open to pupils and take account of our confirmed INSET days.

Term	First Day for Pupils	Last Day for Pupils
Autumn Term 1	Monday 7 September 2026	Friday 23 October 2026
Autumn Term 2	Monday 2 November 2026	Friday 18 December 2026
Spring Term 1	Monday 4 January 2027	Friday 12 February 2027
Spring Term 2	Tuesday 23 February 2027	Thursday 25 March 2027
Summer Term 1	Monday 12 April 2027	Friday 28 May 2027
Summer Term 2	Tuesday 8 June 2027	Friday 23 July 2027

INSET Days – School Closed to Pupils

INSET days provide valuable opportunities for staff training, professional development and school improvement.

School will be closed to pupils on the following dates:

Thursday 3 September 2026
Friday 4 September 2026
Friday 20 November 2026
Friday 15 January 2027
Monday 22 February 2027
Monday 7 June 2027

Please check these dates carefully before booking holidays or making childcare arrangements.

Attendance at Winford

Every Day Matters. Every Child Accounted For.

Regular attendance is essential for children's learning, wellbeing and sense of belonging.

Every day in school provides opportunities to develop knowledge and skills, build friendships, grow in confidence and take part in the wider life of our school.

We aim for every child to achieve attendance of at least 96%, while recognising that genuine illness and individual circumstances can affect attendance.

We monitor attendance carefully and work in partnership with families to identify concerns early and provide support where needed.

Our approach is supportive, consistent and centred on the best interests of every child.

Reporting Your Child's Absence

Dedicated Absence Line: 01275 476580

If your child is unable to attend school, please telephone our dedicated absence line before 8.50am on the first day of absence.

When leaving a message, please include:

Your child's full name and class.
The specific reason for their absence, including symptoms if they are unwell.
How long you expect them to be absent, if known.

Please continue to update the school on each subsequent day of absence unless alternative arrangements have been agreed.

If we have not received an explanation for a child's absence, we will contact parents or carers promptly.

Where we are unable to establish a child's whereabouts, we will follow our safeguarding and welfare procedures to ensure that they are safe.

Every Child Accounted For is an important part of our commitment to safeguarding.

Illness and Medical Appointments

We understand that children become unwell and that there will be occasions when they are not fit to attend school.

If your child is ill, please provide a clear explanation of their symptoms when reporting their absence.

Children with vomiting or diarrhoea should normally remain away from school until 48 hours after the last episode, in line with public health guidance.

Where possible, medical and dental appointments should be arranged outside school hours.

If an appointment must take place during the school day, please inform the school in advance. Children should attend school before or after their appointment whenever reasonably possible.

We may ask for appointment confirmation where appropriate.

If your child has an ongoing medical condition or additional needs that affect attendance, please speak to us so that we can discuss suitable support.

Punctuality – Starting the Day Together

Arriving at school on time helps children feel settled, included and ready to learn.

The school gates close at 8.50am.

Children arriving after this time must enter through the school office, where their arrival and the reason for lateness will be recorded.

Repeated lateness can mean children miss important learning and the opportunity to settle into the school day alongside their classmates.

If mornings are becoming difficult, please speak to us. We will work with families to understand the reasons and explore practical solutions.

Children will not be blamed or embarrassed for arriving late.

Holidays and Leave of Absence During Term Time

Holidays during term time will not normally be authorised.

Headteachers can only grant leave of absence during term time in exceptional circumstances. Each request is considered individually, in accordance with statutory guidance and our Attendance Policy.

Family holidays, cheaper travel arrangements and the availability of accommodation are not normally considered exceptional circumstances.

Please check the school term dates before making any holiday bookings.

Requests for leave of absence must be made in advance using the school's leave of absence request form.

Unauthorised Absence and Penalty Notices

Unauthorised absence, including term-time holidays, may result in a penalty notice being issued by the local authority.

Under the national penalty notice framework:

A first penalty notice is £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days, rising to £160 if paid within 28 days.
A second penalty notice within three years is £160 per parent, per child, payable within 28 days.
A third penalty notice cannot normally be issued within the same three-year period. Other action, including prosecution, may be considered.

Penalty notices are considered in accordance with the national framework and the local authority's code of conduct. They are not automatically issued for every unauthorised absence.

Parents should be aware that unauthorised holidays may lead to financial penalties and, in some circumstances, legal proceedings.

Further information is available in our Attendance Policy.

Supporting Families with Attendance

We recognise that some children and families experience difficulties with regular attendance.

These may relate to physical health, emotional wellbeing, special educational needs, anxiety, family circumstances or other barriers.

Our value of Care means that we listen, seek to understand and work together to find solutions.

Support may include:

A conversation with your child's class teacher or a member of the leadership team.
A trusted adult to help your child feel safe and supported.
Support with morning routines, transitions or punctuality.
Nurture and pastoral provision.
Individual attendance support plans.
Support for emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA).
Involvement from our SENCO, Mental Health Support Team or other professionals where appropriate.

We encourage families to contact us as soon as difficulties begin, rather than waiting until attendance has significantly declined.

Our aim is to remove barriers wherever possible and help children feel confident, connected and ready to attend school.

Working Together to Improve Attendance

We regularly monitor attendance and will contact families when we identify patterns of absence or punctuality concerns.

This may begin with an informal conversation to understand any difficulties and offer support.

Where attendance remains a concern, we may arrange meetings, agree an attendance support plan or follow the formal stages set out in our Attendance Policy.

We recognise and celebrate improvements in attendance, positive routines and the efforts children and families make to overcome barriers.

We do not use 100% attendance rewards, recognising that some absences are unavoidable and that children should not feel penalised for genuine illness.

Attendance Policy and Further Information

For more detailed information about our attendance expectations, absence reporting, punctuality, leave of absence and the support available, please refer to:

If you have questions about attendance or would like support, please contact the school office.

School Office: 01275 472730
Dedicated Absence Line: 01275 476580
Email: office@winfordprimary.com