Absence Reporting and Attendance

To report your child's absence: Call 01295 983653 and dial 1 for the absence line

CLICK HERE for a great guide to childhood illnesses and absence from school

Absence

This is a successful school and your child plays their part in making it so. We aim to be a nurturing community that promotes respect, appreciation and compassion; to create a learning environment that promotes determination, grit and resilience; to celebrate high standards through excellent, creativity and curiosity; and to create an environment that promotes responsibilities, leadership and team-work. For our children to gain the greatest benefit from their education and to achieve these aims, it is vital that they attend school regularly. Your child should be at school, on time, every day the
school is open unless the reason for the absence is unavoidable.

It is very important that you make sure that your child attends school regularly. 

Understanding types of absence:

Every half-day absence from school must be classified by the school (not by the parents), as either AUTHORISED or UNAUTHORISED. This is why the school always asks for information about the cause of (or reason for) any absence, preferably in writing.

Authorised absences are morning or afternoon sessions away from school for a good reason like illness, medical/dental appointments which unavoidably fall in school time, emergencies or other unavoidable cause.
Unauthorised absences are those which the school does not consider reasonable and for which no “leave" has been given. This type of absence can lead to the Local Authority (County Attendance Team) using sanctions and/or legal proceedings. This includes:
• Parents/carers keeping children off school unnecessarily
• truancy before or during the school day
• absences which have never been properly explained
• children who arrive at school too late to get a mark
• shopping, looking after other children or having the day off for a birthday
• day trips and holidays in term time which have not been pre-agreed by the Head of School
• excessive illness without medical evidence

Please see Policy page for more information