At The Hayling College, we want every pupil to feel that they belong, are supported and are able to attend College regularly.
We know that there can be times when attending school becomes difficult. The reasons can be varied and may include illness, anxiety, emotional wellbeing, SEND, family circumstances or difficulties within school.
Our approach is to work with pupils and families to understand what is getting in the way of attendance and agree the support needed to help. This reflects the Department for Education's Working Together to Improve School Attendance guidance and our commitment to ensuring pupils are Happy, Healthy and High Performing.
How we can help
If your child's attendance begins to cause concern, please contact us early. You do not need to wait until attendance has fallen significantly before asking for support.
Your child's Tutor, Progress Leader or Attendance Team can work with you and your child to understand any barriers and agree appropriate next steps. Depending on individual circumstances, this might include pastoral or wellbeing support, SEND support, an attendance plan, help with routines or reintegration, or support from other services.
The DfE's guidance emphasises that schools and families should work as partners, with parents feeling understood and involved in finding solutions.
Our new attendance system – Attend
From 2026/27, The Hayling College is using Attend to strengthen how we monitor and support attendance.
Attend helps us identify emerging patterns and concerns earlier, record barriers and interventions, and communicate more consistently with families. Parents may receive attendance information and messages by email or text; parents do not need to create an account to receive these communications.
Importantly, we will use attendance information to help us start conversations and offer support, not simply to report a percentage.
Why attendance matters
Regular attendance gives pupils the best opportunity to keep up with learning, maintain friendships, participate in College life and achieve their potential. Even relatively small amounts of absence can accumulate over the course of an academic year.
We also recognise that every child's circumstances are different. Where attendance is becoming difficult, our first priority is to understand why and work with you to improve the situation.
If you are worried about your child's attendance, please contact their Tutor, Progress Leader or the Attendance Team as soon as possible. We would much rather work with you early than wait for difficulties to become established.
Further information for parents and carers is available in the DfE's Working Together to Improve School Attendance guidance.
