Tips for parents on good attendance
It is important to establish regular school attendance habits from the start. This will influence attendance in the future. Good school attendance and punctuality will help children in their future.
- Preparation – help your child to get everything ready the night before.
- Establish a good bedtime routine – when a child gets enough sleep it can make mornings less of a struggle.
- Allow time to travel to school – rushing can be very unsettling for your child and is not a good start to their day.
- Help children to understand why attending school is important, why it will help them now and in the future for whatever they want to do when they are older.
- Take an interest in their education and how their day has been. Give them an opportunity to talk to you about any worries or concerns they may have early on, so they don’t hold on to them and cause a bigger problem.
If you have concerns about your child’s attendance, remember you are not alone. By working together to find solutions, little problems won’t develop into big ones. Talk to your child’s teacher to resolve any issues early. The school will always be there to help support you and your child.
How to set good routines
Putting in place a routine for getting ready for school, that works for you can help reduce stressful situations in the morning and help you get a calmer start to the day. Family Lives has information for parents about a school routine. Click here for some additional tips to help you create a morning routine and here for a document to help you set up your own routine.
Some children and parents can find separating difficult, especially after a school break or a long period of time at home following an illness. More parents and children experienced this difficulty following the local and national lockdowns during the recent pandemic. To support the return to school, the Mentally Healthy Schools website that belongs to the Anna Freud Centre put together tips and guidance for parents.