Attendance & Absence

The Importance of High Attendance

We recognise the strong link between attainment and attendance and the important role parents play in ensuring that attendance is as high as possible.

We also know that parents can have a significant effect on their child’s absences and we would really appreciate your help and support ensuring that your child comes to school every day so that they can get the best possible outcomes.
A pupils progress can be adversely affected if they do not regularly attend school.
To illustrate:

"90% attendance is an average of one day out of school per fortnight over a school year!"
It is clearly understood that there are exceptional circumstances when levels of attendance may fall below 96% or even 95% for reasons beyond the child and parents' control. However, these are very rare exceptions rather than the rule.
It is very important that parents and carers speak with the Class Teacher at the earliest opportunity if they have any worries at all about ensuring the regular and punctual attendance of their child.  Whilst we will provide support and guidance, it is ultimately the parents' legal responsibility to ensure their child's regular attendance. 

 
If your child is unwell

We know that sometimes our pupils cannot come to school because they are really unwell - and that's the right thing to do for them and other children. Medical advice is clear however that children with mild illness will often be well enough to attend - for example if they have a cough, or cold, without a temperature. The NHS guidance, 'Is my child too ill for school?' - NHS (www.nhs.uk) is designed to support parents in their decision making about mild illness.  
 

Parents and carers must telephone the school or send an email to the school office on the first day of their child's absence and every day thereafter. Parents must record their child's name, class, the reason for absence and the expected date of return. The school office staff will transfer this information each day to the class registers.

The Health Protection Agency advises that if a child has vomiting or diarrhoea then they will be unable to return to school for 48 hours to minimise the spread of infection.

Requesting Leave of Absence

We encourage you NOT to take your child out of school during term time.

We also know that pupils fall behind their friends and classmates when they miss school. At Hormead School, we want the amount of missed education to be reduced as much as possible. We believe that our community is stronger together, with all of our pupils in school, on time, every day. We are building life skills, life-long friendships and preparing your child for future success.  

To request a Leave of Absence during term time please complete the form below and return it to the school. This will only be authorised if circumstances are exceptional.