It is the responsibility of parents of a child of school age to make sure that their child is educated.
Parents must inform the school if the child is absent providing the reason for this and they should respond promptly to communication from the school regarding attendance.
Absence from school is recorded as
- authorised, that is approved by the Education, and Children’s Services department, or as
- unauthorised, that is unexplained by the parent (truancy).
Please let the school know by letter or email if it is a planned absence (e.g. hospital appointment) or phone by 9.30 a.m. on the day of your child’s unplanned absence (e.g. sickness bug).
You should update the school on each day of your child’s absence. If there is no explanation from a child’s parents, the absence will be regarded as unauthorised.
If you have not reported your child’s absence and they are absent at 9.30am you will be sent a text message requesting you call to explain their absence.
Please make every effort to avoid family holidays during term time as this will disrupt your child’s education and reduces learning time.
Please discuss your plans with your child’s Head Teacher before booking the holiday. If they cannot give permission before the holiday, it will be recorded as unauthorised absence.
Schools can authorise absence when they are satisfied that there is a legitimate reason for the request. Head Teachers can approve absences up to two school weeks (10 days) from school in certain situations. Any requests for extended absence over two school weeks (10 days) will be referred to the Education Wellbeing Service Team Leader, who will decide if it will be recorded as authorised or unauthorised leave.
You must complete an “Absence Request in Exceptional Circumstances form” and send this to the Head Teacher to request this absence.
A holiday may be authorised if you can prove that work commitments make a family holiday impossible during school holiday times. Your employer will need to provide evidence of your work commitments. Absence approved by the Head Teacher on this basis is regarded as authorised absence.
Parents may request that their children be permitted to be absent from school to celebrate recognised religious events. Absence approved on this basis is regarded as authorised absence. Extended leave can also be granted on request for families returning to their country of origin for cultural or care reasons.
Parents should work in partnership with the school to promote and support positive relationships to maximise their child’s attendance. A supportive approach is taken to unexplained absence. However, the Children, Education and Justice Services department has legal powers to write to, interview parents, or refer pupils to the Reporter to the Children’s Panel, if necessary.
We monitor and track pupils’ attendance and we will contact you via letter each term if your child’s attendance level is less than 85%.