Attendance

All children are expected to attend school regularly. In cases of illness or exceptional circumstances relating to non-attendance, parents are asked to notify the school by telephone on the first day of absence and keep the school updated if absence is beyond 1 day.

By doing this we will then be able to fulfil our legal requirements regarding the registration of pupils and record the reason for absence in the class register.  All absences for which we do not receive valid reasons are shown as unauthorised absences on the pupil’s Annual Report.  

It would be appreciated if verbal messages concerning absences are not given to class teachers, but are directed to the school office please.  

Requests for leave of absence during term-time

While the school does not encourage absences during term-time, if you need to take your child out of school for half a day or longer for any reason, please complete a 'Absence Request’ form available from the school office.

With regard to medical appointments, we ask parents/carers to make appointments outside of school hours please. We understand that on occasion this is unavoidable and ask please that you send a note in advance or a ‘phone call to the school office if you need to take your child out of school for doctor/dentist/hospital appointments.  If the appointment requires half a day or longer, please have available the hospital/medical appointment card or letter in order to avoid an unauthorised absence mark for the morning or afternoon in question.

Amendments to The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 – which came into force on 1st September 2013 – have removed references to family holiday and extended leave as well as the statutory threshold of ten school days.  The amendments make it clear that headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances..