Absence from School - Persistent and Severe Absence
Any child with attendance of 90% or below (regardless of the reasons for absence) is considered to be a persistent absentee by the government.  This equates to missing 1/2 a day of school every week.  A child with attendance below 50% is considered a severe absentee.

Medical Appointments
All routine appointments should be booked outside school hours.  If your child is absent for medical reasons, you may be asked for medical evidence (e.g. a copy of the prescription, medicine packaging).  If you cannot provide this, the absence may not be authorised.

Illness
If your child is too ill to attend school, you are expected to telephone at the beginning of the day to tell us why your child is absent.  A call should be made to school every day during the absence.  If no reason is provided for absence, it will be recorded as unauthorised.

Holiday Absence
The Headteacher will not authorise any term-time holidays.

Punctuality and Lateness
Arriving late for school is unsettling for your child and can be disruptive for the teacher and other children in the class.  It is important that your child arrives on time (by 8.45am).  If your child arrives late, this will be marked in the register.  If your child arrives after 9.15am, this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.

Ensuring regular and punctual attendance will:

1. give your child the best possible start in life

2. help your child make the most of educational opportunities

3. instill your child with good time-keeping habits

4. prepare your child for the world of work.

Please do everything possible to help your child attend school and support their learning.  Shopping trips, birthdays, outings and visits from relatives are not acceptable reasons for missing school.

Your Responsibility

You have a legal duty to ensure your child receives a regular education at school or otherwise, which will help give them the best possible chance of success in life.  If your child is of compulsory school age and registered at a school, but absent without good reason, the school may choose not to authorise those days.

This could result in the council taking action against you for each child absent, including:

1. a fine (penalty notice)

2. attendance prosecution

3. an Education Supervision Order

Help

If you are having difficulty getting your child to school, please contact the office immediately so that we are able to assist you.