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.
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

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 do not encourage you to take your child out of school during term time. This will only be authorised if circumstances are exceptional. To request a Leave of Absence during term time please complete the form below and return it to the school.