Every school, legally, has to register its pupils twice a day; in the morning at the start of the school day and again after lunch for the afternoon session
If a child is of compulsory school age and is absent from school, the register must show whether the absence was authorised or unauthorised
Authorised absences
When a pupil is absent from school for a genuine reason such as illness or a family bereavement, then the school after being advised of the reason may authorise their absence. This authorisation is at the discretion of the headteacher and needs to be carefully considered.
By law, only the Headteacher can authorise a child's absence from school and in some cases additional evidence, such a letter from your GP, may be requested, especially if their attendance is already cause for concern
In order for your child's absence to be authorised, you MUST inform us of their absence and the reason for it. If you do not inform us then the school will try to contact you as it is our duty to ensure that the children in our care are safe. If we are unable to contact you by telephone then you may get a home visit from a member of staff
If we have not established the reason for your child's absence by 9.30am then the absence will be marked as UNauthorised.
Unauthorised absences
An unauthorised absence is when the School has not received a reason for absence or is unsatisfied with the reason given
The law states that parents or carers must ensure that their child regularly attends school. Should you fail to ensure this then legal action may be taken against you
It is your legal responsibility as the parent or carer to ensure that your child, when of statutory school age, accesses education appropriate to their age, needs and ability
Our school will only authorise a leave of absence for exceptional circumstances.