ABSENCE REPORTING
Attendance Policy information
Section 444 of the Education Act 1996 states that parents and carers of children aged 5 to 16 years of age have to ensure they receive full time education.
Their child must attend school regularly and stay there all day, or provide them with an effective education elsewhere.
Registers are marked at the beginning of the school sessions, i.e. as soon as possible after 8.55 am. and 1.00 pm. Each school day is separated into two sessions, a morning and afternoon session.
Authorised and Unauthorised Absence
Authorised absence is absence authorised by the headteacher. Parents/carers may not authorise absence but must inform the school of the reason for absence on the day by telephone or note or as soon as possible thereafter.
Unauthorised absence is all unexplained absence or absence not authorised by the headteacher.
Acceptable reasons for absence
·Genuine illness.
·An urgent hospital, doctor or dentist appointment, which cannot be made after school.
·Exceptional circumstances e.g. family bereavement which affects your child.
You need to consult with the headteacher about this.
Unacceptable reasons for absence
Illness of parent or siblings
To go shopping / haircut
To visit relatives / family day out
·Holidays
Birthdays
Because you overslept
Because he/she doesn’t want to go to school
To help at home
Because you don’t feel like taking him/her.
Absence for holidays
Parents do not have a right to take children on holiday in term time.
From January 2013, in accordance with DfE guidance, the headteacher will not authorise any holidays requested during term time.
Late arrival
Children are recorded as late if they arrive before the register closes and an unauthorised absence is recorded if they arrive after the register has been completed unless the school has previously been notified. Parents/carers bringing children to school after the register has been taken are asked to sign children in at the office; this is an important Health and Safety requirement. Your child will then be taken to class by a member of staff