Late/Absence Procedures

A good attendance record goes a long way towards helping a child make good progress in school.

 

If your child needs to leave early on a school day, or needs to be excused for PE/games, a letter is required. We also require a letter or telephone message if a child has to leave school (other than at normal times) to visit the doctor, dentist etc. Children must be collected from the school; they will not be allowed to meet you elsewhere.

Parents are strongly encouraged to telephone the school by 9:30am on the first day of absense so that we all know the child is safe; where possible the school will telephone home if no call is received by that time. Exclusion of children from school on medical grounds is in accordance with Plymouth guidelines. 

 

PERMISSION TO BE AWAY WILL NOT BE GRANTED ON THE STRENGTH OF A VERBAL MESSAGE FROM A CHILD.

 

Absence during Term Time 

As from 1st September 2013, all schools are unable to authorise any requests for absence relating to holidays in term time. This has been brought about by an amendment to the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006, which has removed reference to holidays and the ten day period. The amendments make clear that head teachers may not grant leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. 

These changes reinforce the governments view following the ''Taylor Report'' on attendance, that regular school attendance is vital and that pupils should only be granted authorised absence by the school in exceptional circumstances, e.g. illness, exclusions or due to other unavoidable causes. 

If you do require that your child is absent during term time, a form will need to be completed (available from the school office). The Year 6 SATS are currently held in May. Please do not request absence during this time. 

 

We are required by law to keep a register of absences and to publish those absences which were both authorised and unauthorised by the school. For the school year 2019/2020up until 13th March 2019 attendance was 95.5%