If your child is absent
Occasionally, illness or injury will prevent your child from attending school. In the event of absence, please ensure that you let the school know on the first day of absence by 9.15am either by contacting us via the school app, telephone or email.
If your child is absent and we have not received an explanation, we will attempt to contact you on the morning of your child's absence. If we are unable to contact you, a home visit will be made by a member of the Senior Leadership Team to establish a reason for a child's absence. If we are still unable to make contact, the matter will be referred to Social Services or the police.
Communication from parents/carers regarding a child's absence is essential to ensure records are accurate and children's whereabouts are known.
Failing to report your child's absence from school will result in your child's absence being marked as unauthorised. Unauthorised absences can result in further statutory action being taken against you.
The Difference Between Authorised and Unauthorised Absences
There are two types of absence that are recorded on your child's attendance record:
Authorised absences
Authorised absence is where the school has given approval in advance or has accepted an explanation offered for a child's absence. By authorising a child's absence, the school approves it and agrees that is a good reason. Only the Headteacher can authorise a child's absence from school. You should contact school as early as possible to explain why your child needs to be absent and to obtain permission. Acceptable reasons may include:
- Illness - if it is a prolonged illness or if it causes regular absences, medical evidence may be requested.
- Emergency medical or dental appointments or planned medical procedures - routine medical appointments should always be made outside of school hours or during school holidays. Confirmation of planned medical procedures will be requested
- Days of religious observance - to be agreed in advance by the Headteacher.
Unauthorised absences
Unauthorised absence is where the school is saying that either a reason has not been provided, or the reason provided is not acceptable. Absences that school do not consider reasonable include:
- Shopping or birthday trips.
- Looking after younger siblings or visiting relatives.
- Routine medical or dental appointments - these should be made outside of school hours.
- Taking the rest of the day off, before or after an emergency dental or medical appointment.
- Over-sleeping.
- Taking a long weekend.
- Family celebrations - not including days of religious observance.
- Leave of Absence in Term-Time