Attendance
The law states that all children must receive a suitable, full time education between the ages of 5 and 16, and as a parent/carer you are responsible for this. We have a duty in Law to ensure that parents/carers are making sure that their child is receiving a suitable education.
One of the most important things you can do for your child is to make sure they attend school regularly and on time. This starts from the very first time your child attends an education setting e.g. nursery or reception.
Starting good attendance and punctuality habits early will help your child’s social development. Making and keeping friendships is easier if your child is at school on time, every day.
It can be tricky deciding whether or not to keep your child off school or nursery when they are unwell. It is important to remember that not all illnesses mean your child cannot attend school. It’s fine to send your child to school with a minor cough or cold. But if they have a fever, keep them off school until the fever goes. Information about when a child is too ill for school or nursery can be found by clicking on the link below:
Is my child too ill for school? - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Your child should return to school as soon as they are able. The longer children are away from school the harder it may be to fit back into school life. The more school work they miss the harder it will be to catch up. Lessons cannot be re-taught and valuable explanations or activities can be lost.
You must let school know your child is going to be absent and you will need to give a reason for the absence. Please email or telephone the school on 01283 564325. We should be able to offer some advice on how long, if at all, your child should remain home particularly where usual childhood illnesses or infections are concerned e.g. chickenpox.
If a child is too ill to attend it is vital that you contact school by 9am on the first morning of any absence and keep in touch if your child cannot return to school quickly. Only a Head teacher can authorise absence from school. Absence will not be authorised unless the reason you offer is accepted by school, you may be asked to provide supporting evidence e.g. appointment letter or confirmation that your child has been seen by a health professional. Your child’s school will tell you what they may need to see in order to authorise an absence for illness or other medical reason.
Wherever possible make children’s appointments outside school times, particularly regular dental or medical appointments. There is no reason why a child shouldn’t go to school before an appointment or return to school afterwards unless they are unwell. Some schools allow staff to give particular medicines for a short period of time if in a prescribed form and labelled with the child’s name and dosage. If your child needs regular medication you should discuss this with school.
Family holidays should be taken during school holiday periods. Your child is expected to be in school every day during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.
If there are exceptional circumstances requiring your child to be absent from school the application for leave should be made to the Headteacher who will decide whether or not to grant leave.
If leave is not granted and you take your child out of school for a holiday you may be fined.
School will identify any child as having 'persistent absence' (PA) issues. The Department for Education considers a child as having persistent absence if their attendance drops below 90 per cent - the equivalent of missing one day every fortnight. School may refer you to Early Help who may meet with a family to discuss their child's attendance issues.
Our Family Support Worker Mrs Middleton will work with families to ensure that every school age child is receiving a suitable, full-time education by encouraging regular attendance at school.
There are 190 days in the school year, which leaves 175 days to spend on family time, shopping, appointments and other things.
Further information can be found in our Attendance policy.