Reporting absences

It is parents' responsibility to inform school of the reason for a child's absence on the first day, if possible, by phone call, parental note, personal contact, message via another parent or other means. Where a child is ill the school should be notified of the nature of the illness and, when this can be predicted, the date the child is expected to resume school.
Failure to provide us with the necessary information will result in an unauthorised absence mark in the register.

If you do not contact us on day 1 we will call you by day 3.

Absences are categorised into 'authorised' or 'unauthorised'. Only the school, in the context of the law, can approve absence in which case the absence is 'authorised'. If the school does not receive an explanation for an absence or if the explanation is not acceptable then that absence is 'unauthorised'. Unauthorised absences must be investigated by the school, with help from the Educational Welfare Officer (EWO).

Excessive amounts of authorised absence can also disrupt continuity of learning and encourage disaffection. Therefore we are also alert to emerging patterns of unauthorised absence.

Authorised absences

As well as illness, authorised absences include:

• Medical and dental appointments. (Parents should notify the school in person, by phone, letter or show an appointment card)
• Very exceptional 'one off' special occasions may also be authorised - this will depend on the circumstances of the particular case. Schools have been given guidance on making these decisions.
• Family bereavements.
• Days of religious observance. It is helpful if parents can notify school in advance.
• The special position of Traveller families is recognised by section 199 of the Education Act 1993.
• There are other categories of authorised absence which apply to older children e.g. interviews, study leave, work experience etc.
• Family holidays and extended trips overseas during term time.

Unauthorised absences

• Shopping during school hours has been mentioned by the Department of Education as an area where absence is highly unlikely ever to be justified and therefore would be an unauthorised absence. If a child is absent for such a reason school will investigate the particular circumstances of the case.
• Keeping an older child at home to mind house or to look after younger children has also been mentioned by the DFE as constituting unauthorised absence. Applied to our school a similar circumstance would be if a parent could not get a child to school because of his or her own illness, although the child is well. In all these cases there may be exceptions when the absence may be permitted. If the school is satisfied that the circumstances are both genuine and exceptional then absence is authorised.

The main points:

• It is parents' responsibility to ensure regular attendance.
• Contact with school should be made on the first day of absence.
• Children should be in class by 9.00am.
• Children should be collected at 3.05 pm unless other arrangements have been made.

The first stage of education is just as important and serious as the later stages, if not more so because it is at first school where children's attitudes are formed and foundations are laid. The idea that it is acceptable to be late or absent because 'it's only first school' may well instill such an attitude for the later stages of learning that may be difficult to overcome. Please remember that all unauthorised absences will be recorded on your child's annual report.