Absence & Attendance

Pupils are registered at the start of each half of the day. Children can be recorded as ‘authorised absent’ if the school is informed of a legitimate reason for absence. Parents/carers MUST telephone or email the school by 8.45 am on each day of absence if their child is unable to attend to explain the reason why. Illness, medical appointments, attendance at a funeral or religious observance are all considered legitimate reasons.  The school will contact parents/carers of children who are absent where no reason has been given.

It is important to note that unauthorised absences are recorded on children’s reports and published as a performance indicator for the school.  Do let us know if you have an emergency to contend with so that we can be sympathetic towards registration details.

We also require requests in advance, for children to be allowed to leave school during the working day. No child will be allowed to leave school without such a request. We do not authorise holidays within the school year unless there are exceptional circumstances. This policy is to minimise the difficulties that the children encounter when they have time out from the school day and to ensure that your child does not miss important parts of the school curriculum.

Taking a child out for the last week(s) of term is denying him/her the most important part of school work – i.e. finishing the task. If your child misses the first week(s) of a school year this denies them the chance to learn new class routines and, most importantly, settle into a new class and build up a positive relationship with their new teacher. An absent child also misses out on the social re-integration with friends. The first week of any term is the time when new topics are introduced and new routines established. It handicaps a child’s learning to miss out on these important dates.

Authorisation of absence cannot be given retrospectively.