Absences
Absence
Occasionally, children are to unwell to attend school or are unable to attend due to a essential appointment that cannot be arranged outside school hours. Parents or carers are asked to contact the school as soon as possible and before 9.15am on each day of absence. If we have not been contacted, we will telephone the parent or carer to find out the reason for the absence. Any unexplained absence will be recorded as unauthorised and will appear in the school records. If we cannot contact the parent, we will telephone the child's emergency contacts.
The school does not have any medical facilities and parents are therefore requested not to send children to school if they are unwell.
If you are unsure whether to keep your child off school for this reason, the the following NHS link provides useful guidance.
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.
Lateness
School starts at 8.45 am with the gate open and staffed by a member of staff from 8.35am. The gate is closed at 8.45am and any children arriving after this time must report to the school office and will be marked late (L) on the school register. The school register closes at 9.15am. Any child arriving after 9.15am will be marked as unauthorised lateness (U) in line with government guidance.
Good time-keeping is a vital life skill which will help children as they progress through their school life and out into the wider world.
Pupils who arrive late disrupt lessons and, if a child misses the start of the day, they can feel unsettled and embarrassed and risk missing vital work and important messages from their class teacher.
Unauthorised absence
All schools are required to request penalty notices from the Local Authority, if a child has 10 unauthorised sessions (equivalent to 5 school days) over a rolling 10 school week period. If a penalty notice is submitted, the Local Authority is likely to fine parents £160 per pupil, per adult (reduced to £80 per pupil, per adult, if paid within 21 days).
A second penalty notice within 3 years, will result in a fine from the Local Authority of £160 per pupil per adult, with no option of a reduction for paying early.
After a second penalty notice has been issued, schools must consider other options including prosecution. However, please be reassured we are committed to:
● Fostering a positive and welcoming environment where pupils feel safe, secure, and valued.
● Proposing meetings with parents to discuss any attendance issues.
● Collaborating with families to identify any barriers or challenges they may be facing.
● Determining the support the school can provide, which may involve engaging external agencies.
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.