Absence from school

Your child should always attend school regularly during term times. There are only two real exceptions to this:

• When your child is too ill to go to school
• When the school has authorised your child to be absent

If your child is too ill to attend school, you should always call the school to let them know.

Authorised absences from school

Any time you are planning to take your child out of school during term time, you need to ask the school headteacher to give permission for you to do so. These are some examples of situations the headteacher might consider good reasons for your child to be out of school:

• Family bereavement or funeral
• Doctor, hospital or dental appointments

It is always the headteacher's decision whether or not to allow you to take your child out of school during term time. If you do not ask their permission, or they do not give it and you take your child out of school anyway, this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence and your child could be considered a truant.

Unauthorised absences from school

These are some examples of situations which headteachers are unlikely to consider a good reason for your child to be out of school:

• Shopping trips
• Waiting in for a delivery
• Family birthdays
• Visits from relatives
• Family outings
• Not having the correct school uniform
• Family holidays

Parents often assume that they are automatically allowed to take their child out of school (especially during the last weeks of term) for a pre-booked family holiday. This isn't true. Like any other absence, the headteacher would have to give permission for you to take your child out of school for a holiday. You should give the school at least two weeks notice of your intention to go on holiday and be prepared for the possibility that they may refuse.

Being late for school

It is important that your child gets to school on time. The school day can start before the official first lesson, as schools often have registration or assembly times. If your child gets to school after the register has been taken, this may be recorded as an unauthorised absence.

If your child is absent from school too often

If the school feels that your child isn't attending properly, they may contact us and we would ask an Education Welfare Officer (EWO) to investigate what is happening.