Attendance (including holidays in term time)
A parent’s guide to keeping kids healthy this school term - UK Health Security Agency (blog.gov.uk)
Is my child too ill for school? - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Attendance Policy
Department for Education - attendance guidance
My child struggles to come to school. You may find this information useful.
Attendance Matters - information for families on why good attendance is important and what happens if it isn't.
Parents, please remember we ask you to do the following if your child will be absent from school for any reason:
1. Report your child's absence via Studybugs, or phone the school office every morning your child is not in school. The number is 01268 523017. You must make the call by 9.00am.
2. Inform the school office as to when your child will be returning to school. Please remember you must phone each day to report the absence.
The school will always follow up any absence. If your child’s attendance gives any cause for concern, you will be reported to the Local Authority.
The school becomes concerned if a child’s attendance falls below 96%.
Holidays during Term Time
Cherry Tree Primary School & Nursery, the Local Authority and Government believe that absence during term time should be avoided as it can have a damaging effect on pupils' education and overall achievement. It is recognised however, that there may be exceptional circumstances which may justify authorisation of the absence by the Headtacher.
The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) ( Amendment) Regulations 2013 explanatory note states:
Regulation 7 of the 2006 Regulations is amended to prohibit the proprietor of a maintained school granting leave of absence to a pupil except where an application has been made in advance and the proprietor considers that there are exceptional circumstances relating to the application.
Application is to be made in advance by the parent with whom the child normally resides. The form is available from the Main Office.
Leave of absence during term time will only be granted where the Headteacher considers it is due to 'Exceptional Circumstances'. Parents will be informed within ten school days as to whether the request has been authorised or unauthorised. Requests for Leave of Absence for holidays will not be approved.
Leave of absence taken without authorisation may be referred to the Local Authority. This may result in prosecution proceedings, or a Fixed Penalty Notice. If a Fixed Penalty Notice is issued, a separate notice may be issued to each child.
AS OF 1st SEPTEMBER 2013, THE RATE PER PER PARENT PER CHILD WILL BE £60 IF PAID WITHIN 21 DAYS. THIS WILL RISE TO £120 IF NOT PAID BETWEEN 22 AND 28 DAYS.
If the Penalty Notice is not paid, each parent may be liable to prosecution at the Magistrates' Court, and if proved, each notice may receive a criminal conviction and / or a fine to a maximum of £2,500 plus costs.
Holidays at the Start of the School Year
Please be aware of the following guidance from Essex County Council:
Penalty notices may be issued where there has been at least 10 sessions* of unauthorised absence during the previous ten school weeks. This includes unauthorised late arrivals, coded U, which count as unauthorised absence for the whole session.
In addition to the above criteria, due to the importance of pupils settling into school at the commencement of the school year, penalty notices may also be issued if there have been at least 6 consecutive sessions* of unauthorised leave of absence during the first two weeks of September due to a term-time holiday.
*Please note that the school day consists of 2 sessions - AM and PM.
Please see the document below for further information: