Attendance and Absences

We are required to keep detailed records of children’s school attendance. Please let us know if your child is unwell and unable to come to school by telephoning the school office by 9am on the first day of absence, stating the nature of the illness. If your child has sickness/diarrhoea, NHS guidance is that parents may need to keep their child off school for 48 hours.

Authorised absences are recorded when your child is ill or visits a doctor. If your child has a medical or dental appointment to attend, this should be notified to the child’s class teacher in writing before the day of the appointment and supported by a copy of the appropriate appointment letter / card.

Unauthorised absences are recorded when we do not know why your child is not in school and we have not been contacted following the correct procedure (when you have taken an unauthorised holiday). In certain circumstances lateness may recorded as an unauthorised absence.

Amendments to the 2006 regulations in the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2013 make it clear that Headteachers may not grant leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. As from September 2013, absence for a family holiday will not be authorised and is likely to be subject to a penalty notice (fine). Requests for absence during term time should be supported by the appropriate form completed by the pupil’s parent / guardian. The form can be obtained from Miss Howard or Mrs Jones in the school office.

If the request for absence is made via a letter from a parent, or a verbal request, a form must still be completed at least 14 days before the expected period of absence. Completed forms must be submitted to Miss Bryan for consideration. Shortly afterwards, you will receive a letter detailing the decision.

Your child’s punctuality is also very important and you may be issued with a Penalty Notice if your child is continuously late. It is of utmost importance that your child arrives at school on time. Arriving late is disruptive and unsettling for your child. It also sets a bad example. In the exceptional event that your child is late to school, they should be taken to the school office to be signed in. If you need to collect your child at any point in the day, you will need to contact the office in advance and sign your child out at the office.