Illnesses should be reported to the school office by 8.45am, where possible, on the first day of the child's illness.   A reason for the illness and an expected return date to school should be given.  

If you have not made contact with school by 9.30am regarding your child's absence, school will always follow this up. This is part of our duty of care and safeguarding procedures.  We do this by trying to contact the main contact in the first instance. If this is unsuccessful after two attempts, we shall attempt to contact the emergency contacts that you will have provided to us on admission.  If we still do not know about the whereabouts of a child, after making contact with all the named contacts, school will conduct a pastoral visit to the home. To avoid this action being taken, please report all absences on the first day of the absence.  Please do continue to update us on the progress your child is making, relating to their absence. 

Children suffering with diarrhoea or vomiting should not be brought back to school until they have been free of symptoms for 48 hours.

For any absences to be taken during the school day other than illness, a leave of absence request form, (available below), should be completed in advance of the absence providing full information and evidence (if needed) for the absence, and submitted to the school.  If you are requesting the same leave period for more than one child, you only need to complete one form advising of all children's details that the absence relates to.

Where the absence is for a child's medical reason, notification of the appointment should be shown to the office staff or a copy attached to the form so that it can be recorded that it has been seen.

Leave of Absence Requests

William Law CE Primary School recognises that positive behaviour and good attendance are essential in order for pupils to get the most of their school experience, including their attainment, wellbeing and wider life chances.

The law entitles every child of compulsory school age to an efficient, full-time education suitable to their age, aptitude, and any special educational need they may have. It is the legal responsibility of every parent to make sure their child receives that education either by attendance at a school or by education otherwise than at a school.

Where parents decide to have their child registered at school, they have an additional legal duty to ensure their child attends that school regularly, and on-time. This means their child must attend every day that the school is open, except in a small number of allowable circumstances such as being too ill to attend or being given permission for an absence in advance from the school.

The Department for Education (DfE) has produced statutory guidance for maintained schools, academies, independent schools, and local authorities. It is called “Working together to improve school attendance” and it includes a National Framework in relation to absence and the use of legal sanctions. Our School Attendance Policy reflects the requirements and principles of that guidance.

In addition, all schools follow the DfE’s statutory safeguarding guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education, which emphasises the importance of understanding the potential vulnerabilities of children who are missing or absent from education.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2

Our policy aims to raise and maintain levels of attendance by:

• Promoting a positive and welcoming atmosphere in which pupils feel safe, secure and valued;

• Raising and maintaining a whole school awareness of the importance of good attendance and punctuality;

• Ensuring that attendance is monitored effectively and reasons for absences are recorded promptly and consistently.

For our children to gain the greatest benefit from their education it is vital that they attend regularly and be at school, on time, every day the school is open unless the reason for the absence is unavoidable.

It is a rule of this school that pupils must attend every day, unless there are exceptional circumstances, and it is the Principal (or their delegate), not the parent, who can authorise the absence.

From 19th August 2024, there is a National Framework for Penalty Notice Fines being issued for unauthorised absences recorded by schools. 

If your child has 10 unauthorised sessions within a rolling 10 school week period (this can span different terms or school years) you could be liable for a Penalty Charge Notice fine of £160.00 per child per parent if paid within 28 days but reduced to £80.00 per child per parent if paid within 21 days for the first offence, further offences can be incurred for any further absences.   

Parents may be recognised differently under Education Law, than under family law.  Section 576 of the Education Act 1976 states that a "parent", in relation to a child or young person includes any person who is not a parent (from which can be inferred "biological parent") but who has parental responsibility, or who has care of the child.  A person typically has care of a child or young person if they are the person with whom the child lives, either full or part time and who looks after the child, irrespective of what their biological or legal relationships is with the child.  

Please see Penalty Notice Fines poster and Parent Guidance on PN for School Attendance below for more information.

Penalty Notices are issued by the Local Authority and not school.