Attendance and Absence

If a child is absent, the school should be advised by telephone giving the reason for absence, if possible before 9.00 am.  A note should be sent to school in advance if a child needs to visit the doctor or dentist.

Where no information is received concerning a child’s absence, it will be considered unauthorised.

Attendance at school is compulsory and authorised absence in term time will only be considered on compassionate grounds and/or in exceptional circumstances.

Areas of the national curriculum are missed when pupils are absent during term time. Parents should be aware that it will not be possible for pupils to make up lost time and work. This clearly has an impact on their learning and parents should avoid taking pupils on holiday in term time.

• Application for authorised leave in term time must be by personal application to the Headteacher and on completion of the appropriate form. Each request for authorised absence will be considered individually.
• Leave may be authorised if the Headteacher considers the absence should be granted on compassionate grounds and/or in exceptional circumstances.
• Applications for authorised leave during national SATS week will not be approved.
• Headteachers are only permitted to agree authorised absence for 10 school days in a school year. Parents should not regard 10 days absence per year as norm. The Governing Body has agreed that absence will only be on compassionate and/or in exceptional circumstances.
• All requests for leave beyond 10 days a year will be considered by the full Governing Body.
• Applications will then be considered and the outcome passed on to the parent or guardian.
• The Headteacher may request the Educational Welfare Officer to visit a family who the Headteacher considers to be acting against the best interests of the child.