Absence
Attendance
We believe that a good attendance at school gives children the best opportunity to develop as individual both academically and socially. Our target for individual attendance over the year is 95%. We understand that at times, there are reasons such as illness or for important medical appointments, that it is not possible for your child to attend school but it is important that you inform us at the earliest opportunity if your child will not be attending school. Please phone the school office or send an email before the school start time of 8:45am. If your child is off for multiple days, please keep in touch and confirm each day as this is part of school safeguarding procedures. We will want to speak to you after 3 days to check on how your child is and see when they are likely to return.
Lateness
It is important that to maximise teaching time that we start the school day promptly. We usually open the door at 8:30am, registration starts at 8:45AM and closes at 8:50AM. Any child arriving after this time will be recorded as being late and parents need to bring them in via the school office. Any children arriving in school after 9:15am will be marked as 'late after registers closed' - this is an unauthorised absence and can contribute to a level of unauthorised absence that results in enforcement action from the Local Authority.
Medical Appointments
We ask that, where possible, appointments are made outside of teaching time or where the impact on learning in school is minimised (end of morning, or end of day). If possible, please return your child to school after the appointment. When children are absent for registration in the morning or afternoon, that session is recorded as an absence. Evidence of a medical appointment e.g. appointment letter is helpful so we can verify the reason for absence from school.
Illness
We encourage you wherever possible to bring your child to school. We can normally manage with minor colds and snuffles with enough tissues! If your child is ill, please email or telephone the school office by 8:45am so we can complete the register appropriately. We operate a first day call system so if you do not make contact with the school we will use our contact list for your child to find out why they are not attending.
The only time we will ask you to refrain from bringing your child to school is if they have experienced sickness or diarrhoea in the last 48 hours. This is to avoid cross infection and creating more illness as a result. Your child needs to be fully well to return to school after any bout of sickness or diarrhoea and so a period of 48 hours is required - in line with NHS guidance.
Absence in term time for Holidays or in Exceptional Circumstances
Because every day in school is an essential learning opportunity, the DFE guidance was updated in August 2024 with regard to absence from school. It strongly encourages all parents and guardians to use school holiday time for family holidays. We are no longer able to authorise any holidays in term time and the Local Authority will take enforcement action (a fine, leading to prosecution if repeated 3 times in less than 3 years), usually for any unauthorised absence of 5 days or more in a 10 week period. If you have to request absence on an exceptional basis, please complete the form below to make a request for leave and make sure the school receive this in plenty of time to consider your request.
Further information on the Local Authority and DFE approach can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-improve-school-attendance
As a group of local Headteachers, we have agreed and set out how we respond to such requests so that parents can see that primary schools locally are being consistent and to ensure fairness to all.
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