📅Every Day Counts at High Halden!

At High Halden Church of England Primary School, we know that regular attendance and punctuality are key to helping children achieve their very best — academically, socially, and emotionally. 💡 Children who attend school consistently are more likely to:

✅ Make better academic progress
✅ Develop strong friendships and confidence
✅ Feel part of the school community
✅ Transition smoothly to secondary school

🛎️ Why Attendance Matters

There are only 190 school days in a year — every single one is a chance to learn, grow, and thrive. 🌱 When children miss school, even just a few days, it can have a big impact on their progress and wellbeing. That’s why we ask families to work with us to keep attendance above 95% wherever possible.

📞 Reporting an Absence

If your child is unwell or unable to attend school, please let us know as soon as possible.

📞 Call us on: 01233 850285
📧 Email: office@high-halden.kent.sch.uk
🕘 Please contact us by 9:00am on each day of absence.

👨‍👩‍👧 How Parents Can Help

Together, we can support every child’s success by building strong attendance habits. Here’s how you can help:

🕘 Ensure your child arrives on time, every day
🤒 Call us if your child is too unwell to attend
🦷 Book medical or dental appointments outside school hours where possible
🌴 Avoid term-time holidays — these cannot be authorised
🤝 Reach out if you need support with attendance or punctuality — we’re here to help

🧠 Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA)

We understand that, for some children, attending school can feel overwhelming due to anxiety or emotional challenges. Known as Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA), this can affect a child’s wellbeing and attendance over time.

At High Halden, we take a compassionate and supportive approach, working with families to understand what's going on and offer tailored strategies to help your child feel safe and confident returning to school.

📚 Useful Resources

📘 Attendance Booklet – Working Together to Improve Attendance
📋 Summary of Responsibilities for School Attendance
❓ Is My Child Too Ill for School?
💬 Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA) Guide

Let’s work together to make sure every child gets the best start in life.
Because every school day matters — and so does every child. 🌟