Absence – The Law
Authorised Absence is absence for illness, unavoidable medical appointment, family crises relating to the child, external examinations and other exceptional circumstances.
Unauthorised Absence is absence which remains unexplained by parents/guardians, taking time away from school for non-urgent, avoidable activities (whether or not explained) and truancy.
The decision as to whether an absence is authorised or not rests with the school.
If your child is absent, due to illness, please notify the school by telephone, or e-mail, via [email protected] as soon as possible on the first day of absence. If you have advised us by telephone, please follow up with a written note on your child’s return to school.
Leave of Absence
Leave of absence from school in exceptional circumstances
The law states that the parents are compelled to ensure that their child attends school unless there is reasonable excuse for non-attendance.
The Corbet School comply with Education Regulations around Leave of Absence.
Family holidays during term time are not deemed an exceptional circumstance.
In normal circumstances the school requires a minimum of 6 weeks’ notice for the request for Leave of Absence and will aim to make a decision within 10 working days.
- We ask parents to complete a ‘Request for Leave of Absence from School in Exceptional Circumstances’ form which can be obtained from the school office or via the school website.
- Parents should read through the form thoroughly and complete, stating the exceptional circumstances to be taken into consideration.
- Return the whole form to the Learning Manager, Mr Hartshorn, via the school office.
- The school aims to inform parents of the decision within 10 working days via return of the reply slip.
- If the Leave of Absence is not to be authorised the Education Welfare Officer (EWO) will receive a copy of this communication as well as you, the parents. In such cases a formal warning notice will be served.
- If a warning has been served and the holiday is taken and the conditions are in line with the Code of Conduct a Truancy Penalty notice will be served.
- If the Truancy Penalty Notice is not paid the Local Authority will prosecute for the absence under the Code of Conduct.
STOP – PAUSE – THINK
About the effect Leave of Absence in term time has on your child
- Any term-time absence clearly has an impact on any child’s education which can be critical in some year groups and especially at certain times of the year.
- Leave of Absences in term time are not a right and will not normally be granted. Holiday prices, and the fact that parents have booked a holiday before checking with school, are not special reasons.
- Absences in term time are extremely disruptive for both pupils and teaching staff and are actively discouraged by the school and the Local Authority.
- Leave of Absence will not be granted retrospectively.
- The decision will be made following Education Regulations.
- The final decision rests with the school.
We hope that parents will find this brief summary clarifies the situation. If you require further information please access the Attendance Policy on the policies section of this website, along with the information leaflet and Request for Leave of Absence form. Generally we have no cause for concern in that most pupils attend school willingly and are away infrequently. A small number are reducing their chances of doing well and benefiting from school and also causing extra work and problems to both themselves and school by not following the procedures or being away unnecessarily. Most people would agree that it is part of a school’s job to instill good work practices and these include good attendance and punctuality.
