The Importance of Attending School

The school considers that regular school attendance is essential if children are to take full advantage of the educational opportunities available to them. Irregular attendance undermines the educational process.

Individual absences are carefully considered and unjustified absences will not be authorised. Registered pupils of compulsory school age are required by law to be in school.

Explanations for all absences are required.

Schools are not obliged to accept parental notes/messages where there is reason to doubt the validity of the explanation offered.

Authorised absence

The school can authorise the following absences provided it is satisfied with the validity of the explanation given

1. Short illness
2. Medical or dental appointments
3. Family bereavement
4. Days of religious observance
5. Excluded pupils
6. Exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of the Headteacher
7. From September 2013, an amendment to Education legislation came into force. Schools cannot grant leave of absence/holidays during term-time unless there are ‘exceptional circumstances’.

Headteachers can no longer authorise any holidays or extended leave.

Please be aware when planning ahead / booking holidays we will only authorise term time absences when exceptional circumstances apply:

First offence- the first time a penalty notice is issued for term time leave or irregular attendance the amount will be £160 per parent, per child paid within 28 days. This is reduced to £80 for parent, per child if paid within 21 days. 

Second offence (within 3 years)- the second time a penalty notice is issued for term time leave or irregular attendance the amount will be £160 per parent, per child paid within 28 days. 

Third offence and any other offences (within 3 years)- the third time an offence is committed for term time leave or irregular attendance a penalty notice will not be issued and the case will be presented straight to the Magistrates’ court. Magistrates fines can be up to £2500 per parent, per child. 

Cases found guilty in magistrates’ court can show on the parents future DBS certificate, due to ‘failure to safeguard a child’s education.’ 

Penalty notices are still per parent, per child. The framework states schools are required to consider issuing a penalty notice  where a child has missed over 10 school sessions (each day has two sessions).

Unauthorised Reasons

School cannot accept reasons such as:
Looking after the house, brothers or sisters, shopping, birthday parties, football excursions, recreation days etc.

Illness:

In most cases, absences for illness will be authorised unless there is a genuine reason to believe that the illness is not genuine. The school reserves the right to request supporting medical evidence for any period of illness. This can be in the form of a medical appointment card / letter or a prescription issued on the day of absence. In some cases school may request a letter from a GP.

Absences due to illness, which have not been reported, to the school by the Parent/Carer on the first day of absence will not be authorised and will be recorded as unauthorised. The reporting of any absence remains the responsibility of the Parent/Carer.

If a child is expected to be absent for more than a day due to a serious or prolonged illness, parents can provide the school with the expected date of return. We do however ask parents to keep the school updated during this period of absence.

Where a child is absent due to vomiting or diarrhoea and it is believed this is due to a virus/bug the child must not return to school until 48 hours after the last episode of illness, this is to reduce the risk of infection to other children and adults at the school.

However if a child has vomited as a result of having become over excited, has over eaten, has been running around/ been swimming and swallowed some water for example then they can return to school following that episode. The 48 hour ‘rule’ does not apply.

If you are in any doubt and would like some advice please ring the school office on 0117 9031932

Medical/Dental Appointments:

Missing registration due to a medical or dental appointment is recorded as an authorised absence. However where possible we ask parents/carers to make appointments outside of school hours.

Where appointments during school time are unavoidable, the child should be absent for as short a period of time as possible.

All absences for medical or dental appointments must be supported by providing the school office with sight of or a copy of the appointment card or letter – only then will be absence be authorised.

Lateness

Lateness is considered not only to be disruptive to your child’s continuity of learning but also to that of others within their class. Children can become distressed/embarrassed when they are late into class.

Children are expected to be on the playground at 8.40 am, ready in class to start learning at 8.50 am.

The register will close at 9.00 am

Children arriving after these times will be recorded as late and must report to the school office. Children arriving after 9.30 am will be marked in the register as having an unauthorised absence for the whole session.

Children who have at least 8 absences (after 9.30 am) and/or any other unauthorised absences within a 10 week period may be subject to a Penalty Notice being requested from Bristol City Council.