Talbot Primary School

Absence

PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY ON REPORTING ABSENCE

Please see the Attendance Policy

A child not attending school is considered a safeguarding matter. This is why information about the cause of any absence is always required. If your child is absent you must: 

• Contact us as soon as possible on the first day of absence
• Parents need to bring to the school evidence of dates of medical appointments, e.g. copy of medical letter and complete a leave of absence form
• Medical evidence may be required if your child has above average illness this could be a copy of a prescription, labelled medication or an appointment card.

 IF YOUR CHILD IS ABSENT WE WILL: 

• Telephone or text you on the first day of absence if we have not heard from you, this is because we have a duty to ensure your child’s safety as well as their regular school attendance.  
• We may refer the matter to the Leeds City Council School Attendance Service if absence falls below 90% (Appendix two: school based interventions)
• If we believe that your child is absent due to a holiday you may be issued with a penalty notice £60 per parent per child.

 AUTHORISED ABSENCE IS DEFINED AS:

• Genuine illness
• Medical or dental appointment (routine appointments should be arranged out of school time)
• Bereavement – (Headteacher’s discretion)
• Religious observance (no more than 2 days per academic year)
• Approved leave in term time where there are exceptional circumstances, as agreed by the Headteacher.

UNAUTHORISED ABSENCE IS DEFINED AS:

• Holidays in term time (following the Department for Education’s Guidelines)
• Absence in term time where permission has not been given by the school in accordance with the A.R.M Cluster Attendance Policy. This means that parents/ carers do not have the right to take their child out of school during term time.
• Late, after the registers have closed (a ‘U’ code will be used)
• Any absence that the school has not been informed of by letter or by telephone;
• Unexplained absence. Any child whose absence is on-going and remains unexplained for an extended period (10 days) will be referred to the local authority as a child missing education (CME)
• Taking the rest of the day off before or after a medical appointment.
• Staying at home to care for younger children or sick relatives;
• Going shopping or having a haircut;
• Birthdays, Weddings or Anniversaries;
• Transport issues e.g. car broken down;
• Travelling to airport to meet relatives/friends;
• Translating
• Visiting sick relatives

% ATTENDANCE EXPRESSED IN NUMBER OF DAYS ABSENT

Attendance/absence is presented as a percentage figure, but it’s helpful to equate this to number of days off:

Over 5 years children with an average attendance of 85-90% will have missed half a school year of education while children with an average attendance of 80% will have missed a whole school year.