Absence

We have a statutory duty to keep a record of all unauthorised absences and to note these on each child's annual report. This is part of the national move to monitor and discourage truancy. The Department for Education now requires all schools to publish unauthorised absence. Lateness also comes under this category. Registers will be closed at 8.50am each morning and children arriving after that time will be marked late. It is important that parents notify us of the reason for their child's absence as soon as possible, and by 9.00am at the latest, for each day that a child is absent from school. 

Click here if you are requesting an absence for your child due to medical or dental appointments. If possible these appointments should be made out of school hours. Please be aware you will be asked for confirmation of your appointment in the form of a medical letter or appointment card. 

Click here  if you are requesting an absence for 1 day or part of day

Click here if you are requesting an absence for your child for 2 days or more during the school term.

Important Note:

As school holiday dates are published well in advance, it is severely detrimental to your child's education to take holidays during term time. Permission for absence during term time will not be granted except in “exceptional circumstances”.

If children are taken out of school without authority for 5 or more days (which do not need 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.