Parents/carers have a legal responsibility, as stated under Section 444 of the Education Act 1996, to ensure that their child attends the school at which he/she is registered regularly and punctually.
Regular school attendance is an important part of giving children the best possible start in life. The aim should be to attend 100% of the time.
We are keen to ensure that we promote the highest attendance possible for all our young people as this is a fundamental life skill that will ensure young people’s future success. Not only is it vital that our young people establish the very best habits and routines to ensure their success as future employees but there is also very clear national data that clearly shows the impact that poor attendance has on young people achieving the best possible outcomes and educational achievements. In short, if children are not at school we cannot teach them and this will affect their academic achievement at all levels.
As a result of this we are taking a very firm and consistent view when parents seek permission for an absence from school for their child due to circumstances other than genuine illness. All parents can expect that all requests from parents seeking permission for leave of absence for their child will be refused and therefore unauthorised. Permission may be sought where there are exceptional circumstances such as attending the funeral of a close family relative.
Unless your child has a high temperature or a sickness bug, they should attend school. For further information on deciding whether your child is too ill for school, please click here.