Attendance Matters at DBJA!
Our staff responsibilities for attendance
Attendance is everyone’s responsibility at Dorothy Barley Junior Academy. Staff receive training so that there is a consistent whole-school approach to promoting good attendance, identifying concerns early and supporting children and families. Attendance roles and responsibilities formed part of our September 2026 staff CPD.
- Class teachers discuss attendance concerns with families and monitor identified pupils through attendance support plans, which are shared with families and monitored by the school.
- Year Group Leaders monitor attendance patterns within their year groups and support identified families. This includes regular reviews, follow-up contact and recording outcomes on CPOMS.
- The Attendance Champion provides strategic oversight of attendance, monitoring patterns and coordinating intervention where concerns are identified.
- Senior leaders ensure attendance remains a whole-school priority and that appropriate support and resources respond to identified attendance trends and barriers. [
- Governors receive half-termly attendance reports and provide challenge to leaders about attendance outcomes.
Our approach is not simply about monitoring percentages. Staff work with children and families to identify barriers to attendance early, provide support and maintain high expectations, including for pupils who may face additional barriers because of SEND, health or other vulnerabilities. specifically identifies attention to pupils absent because of mental or physical ill-health and/or SEND as part of the school’s attendance work.
At DBJA every day matters, and attendance is everyone’s responsibility. We work in partnership with children and families to identify barriers early, provide the right support and help every child attend regularly and succeed.
Every week, the class (or classes) with the highest attendance gets to have a visit from Barley Bear. Classes prepare a presentation for the whole school on what Barley has done with the class that week. Our classes get very excited when they earn a visit from Barley.
100% Attendance Pencils : every week, a child from each year group and one from Cherry Class who have 100% attendance for that week will be awarded an 100% attendance pencil in Friday’s assembly.
At the end of every school year, children with the highest attendance that year are invited to our Attendance Party, for fun treats and a DJ!
Remember: Punctuality Matters!
