At Willow Grove primary school, we believe that regular attendance is vital to a child’s growth, wellbeing and success. In line with Wigan’s school attendance guidance, we uphold that every day matters and that absence should only occur for valid reasons, with parents/carers notifying us promptly. We publish our weekly attendance data on the home page every week. Our whole school weekly target is 97%. 

Our school Attendance Champions are Miss Glover (Headteacher) and Mrs Latham (Patoral Care Lead). 

Every day in school counts – missing school means missing out on learning, friendships, and essential support.

By being present at school, children are safer, more connected and able to engage fully in learning and socialising — reinforcing our motto: Be Safe, Be Kind, Be Positive. They build relationships, access nurturing support and keep up with learning and the curriculum.

When attendance becomes a concern, we work collaboratively with families and Wigan’s attendance services to offer support. As of September 2025, we have support from a Local Authority Attendance Officer, you can see her profile below. She works alongside Mrs Latham to visit families at home, to offer additional support.