Inclusive Attendance at St Joseph's
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School is proud to be recognised as an Inclusive Attendance School.
At St Joseph's, we believe that attendance is far more than simply being present in school. It is about every child feeling connected, valued, supported and able to flourish. We know that when children attend regularly, they are more likely to achieve academically, develop positive relationships, build confidence and enjoy a greater sense of belonging within our school community. Our attendance culture is built on child-centred values, positive relationships and evidence-informed practice. We recognise that every child’s circumstances are unique, and whilst many children attend school every day without additional support, others may face barriers that require understanding, compassion and collaborative intervention.
Our Inclusive Attendance Culture
Our inclusive attendance culture is founded upon ten key principles that guide every aspect of our work. These principles ensure that attendance is embedded across leadership, teaching, pastoral care, professional learning and partnership working. Together they help us create a culture where attendance is everyone’s responsibility and every child feels they belong.
Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)
At St Joseph's, we use an Inclusive Attendance Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) to ensure every child receives the right support at the right time. Our graduated approach recognises that while most children benefit from universal support through high-quality inclusive practice, some children and families require additional targeted or specialist support to overcome barriers to attendance.
We believe that recognising positive attendance encourages motivation, strengthens relationships and reinforces a sense of belonging. Our recognition-based approach celebrates commitment, improvement and engagement rather than focusing solely on percentages or rewards. By celebrating attendance in meaningful ways, we foster intrinsic motivation and create a positive culture where children feel proud to attend school every day.
Punctuality
Having good attendance also means being on time and not being late to school. Children who arrive late can feel embarrassed, left out and miss out on important introductions to lessons.
Punctuality is an essential life skill that needs to be taught from the very beginning. Our school entrances open up at 8.35am and we expect pupils to be ready to begin their learning at 8.45am.
