It is very important that children attend school every day, unless they are unwell. Attending every day means they can access all the learning opportunities available to them, providing them with a great foundation for their future.

If your child is unwell and cannot come to school, it is vital that you inform us as soon as possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to decide if your child should be kept at home or sent to school if they are feeling under the weather. The NHS has provided some useful guidance to help you decide.  Click here to find out more.  

If you feel your child should be kept at home please see the information below regarding procedures for notifying the school of your child's absence.

• Parents/carers should contact the school before 8.55am on the first day of their child’s absence and on each subsequent day of absence.
• When parents/carers notify us of their child’s absence, it is important that they provide us with details of the reason for their absence. This information is used to determine whether the absence is authorised or unauthorised.
• Where a child is absent from school and we have not received any verbal or written communication from the parent, then we initiate 'first day calling procedure'. If you would like to view a copy of this procedure, there are copies available in the school office.
• If a child vomits or has an upset stomach we ask that you keep them at home for 48 hours after the last episode. This is to ensure we minimise the spread of any illness within the school.

Exceptional Leave of Absence

The Department for Education allows a Headteacher the discretion to consider authorising a leave of absence in term time only in “exceptional circumstances”.  To request an exceptional leave of absence, the ‘exceptional leave of absence’ form must be completed and sent to the school at least 2 weeks before the absence. This form can be found on our ‘parental forms’ page.

If children are taken out of school without authority for 5 or more days (which do not have to be consecutive) parents will be liable to receive a penalty notice. Currently the amount payable under a penalty notice is £60.00 per parent/carer per child if paid within 21 days. Thereafter the amount increases to £120.00 if paid between 21 and 28 days. If the penalty notice remains unpaid after 28 days, the Local Authority will consider a prosecution in the Magistrates Court. Please note that penalty notices are issued per parent/carer per child so a family of two parents and two children will receive 4 penalty notices.

From September 2024 these penalties are changing, as per the information below.