Absences
Illness
Parents are asked to contact the school daily, as early as possible, when their child is to be absent either by telephoning or via email. If the school has not been contacted then we will telephone the parent/carer to find out the reason for the absence. Any unexplained absence will be recorded as unauthorised and will appear in the school records.
The school does not have any medical facilities and parents are therefore requested not to send children to school if they are unwell, or have not fully recovered from an illness.
In the event of a child being taken ill whilst at school, the parent or carer will be contacted and asked to collect the child from school as soon as possible. A child should not return to school following sickness or diarrhoea until at least 48 hours have passed since the last incidence. Children who have conjunctivitis should not be at school until they have been given medication and treated for 24 hours.
Medicines
The school cannot administer medicines unless a signed and completed consent form (obtained from the school office) is received from the parents along with the prescribed medication. This should confirm the dosage and the time it is to be taken. The full bottle of medicine and a spoon should be left with the office staff and they will ensure the correct dose is administered. The bottle will need to be collected from the school office at the end of the day. We therefore ask for your co-operation in only requesting our assistance if you are unable to administer the medication yourself, or if it is vital that it is given during the school day.
Asthma
Asthma inhalers are stored in each child’s classroom to enable them to be accessible to children at all times. Children independently use them as required. A spare ‘backup’ inhaler can be stored in the office medical cupboard if provided by the parent/carer. A letter is provided to parents to explain how asthma is managed in school after they have completed a school asthma card.
Term time leave of absence
Leave of absence of one day, for a special reason, such as external examinations, medical appointments and funeral attendance can be applied for. Medical or dental appointments should be arranged outside school hours when possible. This absence will only be recognised if certified approval has been granted by the Head of School.
Forms to apply for term time leave of absence can be found in the school office.
You may be aware from the press that The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006, regarding absence for the purpose of a family holiday, was amended. They have removed the ability for the headteacher to grant a family holiday during term time of up to 10 days in ‘special circumstances’.
The new legislation makes it clear that headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are ‘exceptional circumstances’.
At our school we have a large number of holiday requests each year which does impact on the learning and progress of the children involved. It has been agreed by the board of directors that leave of absence can only be granted from now on in ‘exceptional circumstances’. We have amended the forms we use to reflect this. We will honour the leave of absence requests made prior to this amendment.
We will consider your ‘exceptional circumstances’ on any future requests but will not be able to authorise ‘standard holidays’. Under the new regulations you could be fined if you remove your child from school at any time other than the designated breaks.
* If leave is taken without authorisation it will be recorded as unauthorised absence and the matter may be referred to the Council’s Education Welfare Service, for consideration of further action.