Attendance & Behaviour

At Sutton Manor Community Primary School, we believe strong attendance, positive behaviour and consistent routines are essential foundations for children to feel safe, successful and ready to learn. Our approach is built around strong relationships, high expectations, inclusion and early support so that all children can thrive both academically and personally.

Our culture is underpinned by our SHINE values:

  • Service

  • Humility

  • Integrity

  • Nurture

  • Excellence

These values help shape how children learn, behave, communicate and contribute to school life. Alongside our expectations of being Ready, Respectful and Safe, they help create calm, purposeful and inclusive environments where children feel valued, supported and able to shine.

We are committed to ensuring children attend school regularly, arrive ready to learn and feel a strong sense of belonging within our school community. We work closely with families to remove barriers to attendance and provide support where needed so children can fully access learning, wider opportunities and enrichment experiences.

Our Expectations

Our school expectations of being:

  • Ready

  • Respectful

  • Safe

are explicitly taught, modelled and reinforced throughout school life. These expectations underpin learning, routines, relationships and behaviour across all areas of the school.

Alongside this, our behaviour culture is built around five key principles:

  • consistent, calm adult behaviour

  • first attention for best conduct

  • relentless routines

  • visible kindness

  • certainty over severity.

These approaches help create calm, purposeful and supportive learning environments where children understand expectations and feel safe and valued.

In order to recognise and reward positive behaviour and character development, we have team points, over and above assembly, star awards, and recognition boards in each classroom.

Behaviour and Written Statement of Principles - September 2025.pdf
Behaviour, Anti-Bullying, and Exclusion Policy - Septemebr 2025.pdf
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Attendance

Good attendance is a key priority because we know children learn best when they attend school regularly and participate fully in school life. Leaders carefully monitor attendance and work proactively with families to identify concerns early and provide timely support.

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Each half-term, our attendance reward shop is open. Rewards are given according to our expected criteria for attendance.

  • Our attendance work includes:

    • close partnership with families

    • early identification of barriers

    • personalised support plans

    • safeguarding and well-being support

    • celebration of positive attendance

    • support for vulnerable children and families

    • multi-agency working where appropriate.

Each half-term we hold our attendance treat for those children who achieved 100% attednance.

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Attendance Policy - September 2025.pdf
Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions - September 2025.pdf
Leave of Absence Request.pdf

Children in our school are expected to attend regularly and on time, unless there are exceptional circumstances. However, we acknowledge that pupils may be absent from school occasionally due to illness, unforeseen circumstances, or with the Headteacher's prior permission.

You can use the school spider app to report an absence, or you can contact the school office. If you do not report your child's absence, then you will receive a call from the school office, and your child's absence will be unauthorised.

Attendance is monitored carefully for all groups of children, including:

  • children with SEND

  • disadvantaged children

  • children known to social care

  • children with medical needs

  • children requiring pastoral or emotional support.

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Strong Foundations

Strong Foundations are central to our approach to attendance and behaviour. Consistent routines, strong communication, purposeful learning and calm classrooms help children feel secure, engaged and ready to participate successfully in learning.

Across school, adults prioritise:

  • strong classroom routines

  • high levels of participation

  • positive relationships

  • explicit modelling

  • clear communication

  • consistent expectations

  • inclusive practice.

This helps children progressively develop confidence, resilience, independence and positive learning behaviours throughout their time at Sutton Manor.

Working Together

We recognise the importance of working closely with families to support attendance, wellbeing and behaviour. We believe positive relationships between home and school are essential in helping children feel supported, successful and ready to shine.

Child Protection and Safeguarding

Schools must have rigorous policies and procedures in place to safeguard children. Our school has several members of staff who have undertaken specialist training. Each School has a Designated Safeguarding Lead.


The law places a duty on the Headteacher and their staff to report any obvious signs or suspected cases of child abuse – which include non-accidental injury, neglect, emotional abuse and/or sexual abuse. The procedures are intended to protect children and all schools are expected to take the attitude that where there are grounds for concern it is better to be safe than sorry. This means that the school risks upsetting some parents by reporting a case that proves unfounded on investigation. In such circumstances, it is hoped that families would accept that the school acted in what were believed to be the child’s best interests.


In line with government requirements, the school maintains a central list of checks on appointed staff and adults who work in or visit the school.