Parents of children of compulsory school age (i.e. the term following their 5th birthday), have a legal responsibility to ensure that they attend school regularly and punctually. There is a legal requirement also for the school to account for all absences. If your child is absent, we need to know why so we ask you notify us either by ParentMail or by telephone (0208 546 0902) before 8.30am on the first day of absence, unless leave has been requested in advance.

If we do not hear from you we will contact you to ask for the reason for absence.  The Department for Education is specific on the subject of absences, which are either authorised or unauthorised by the school.

Reasons for authorised absence are:

• religious observance
• medical appointments (with verification, if necessary)
• any absence that is unavoidable can be authorised by the school

For an absence to be authorised the school has to be satisfied with the parents’ explanation. Except for illness and medical / dental appointments, all absences need to be requested from the school. Medical / dental appointments should be avoided during school time wherever possible. Children, who need to leave school for medical appointments and return later, need to be recorded at the office on exit and entry.

At the end of the year the total absences, authorised and unauthorised, will be shown on your child’s Record of Achievement. Regular attendance is vital for your child’s progress, absences during term time could hinder this.

A directive from central government states that schools are not allowed to authorise absence for holidays during term time. Therefore a child’s absence from school for a family holiday will be unauthorised. Parents are strongly encouraged not to take their children on holidays during term time, but to use the 14 weeks when schools are closed for family holidays.

If you think you want to apply for your child to be absent in term time and believe you can convince school that your case is exceptional, please complete the online Absence Request Form at the earliest opportunity.

Please refer to our Absence leaflet for more information.