ABSENCE

Sick Children

If your child is sick and unable to come to school, please ring on the morning of the first day of absence. You do not need to ring every day, however, if your child continues to be unwell and unable to attend school by the fourth day of absence, please contact us. If your child is visiting the dentist, doctor etc. for a prearranged appointment, parent/carers should notify the child’s class teacher in writing prior to the absence.

Application for Leave of Absence

Please avoid taking your child out of school during term time. However, in exceptional circumstances, leave of absence forms can be collected from the school office. The Headteacher will consider each request individually and whether leave of absence is approved. Should the absence not be approved and the child not attend school, this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.

Holidays

The law states that parents do not have an automatic right to take their child out of school for holidays during term time. Time missed from school may affect test results and children may find the work more difficult when they return to school. Younger children may find it hard to socialise with their classmates. Schools can allow parents to take their child out of class for up to 10 days in any one school year in exceptional circumstances. The decision rests with the Headteacher. If a request is refused and the child is taken out of school this will be recorded as unauthorised absence and noted in the child’s record of achievement. In some cases this will be referred to the Education Welfare Service. This could result in a fine. Penalty notices of up to £100 are being introduced under the Anti-social Behaviour Act, which could be applied to parents/carers who take children on term-time holidays without permission. If you wish to take your child out of school during term time an Absence Request form should be completed and returned to school. These are obtained from the school office and will be returned to parents once authorisation has been given/declined.