Absence
Attendance
We want children to be attending school regularly, but from time to time it isn't always possible due to illness or other circumstances. Absence of more than 10% is monitored closely by the school to see if there is anything we can do to support parents. This may involve a phone call or a meeting to see what can be done to help.
If a child misses 10% of their learning over the year then it's around 20 school days or 80-100 lessons, so there will likely be an impact.
Report Absence
Please report any absence by 09:15 on the day your child is absent. You can do this online by clicking here
If you do not report your child absent then you will receive a text asking for a response. This will be followed up with a call. We have a duty to check on the welfare of pupils each day.
Is my child too ill for school?
The following is a useful guide for common illnesses and what to do. Ultimately it is a parent's decision whether a child is well enough for school, but please follow the recommendations as set out below. Click on the down arrow to find out more information
Coughs and colds
It's fine to send your child to school with a minor cough or common cold. But if they have a fever, keep them off school until the fever goes.
Encourage your child to throw away any used tissues and to wash their hands regularly.
High temperature
If your child has a high temperature, keep them off school until it goes away.
Diarrhoea or Vomiting
Children with diarrhoea or vomiting should stay away from school until they have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 2 days (48 hours).
Sore throat
You can still send your child to school if they have a sore throat. But if they also have a high temperature, they should stay at home until it goes away. A sore throat and a high temperature can be symptoms of tonsillitis.
COVID-19
If your child has mild symptoms, such as a runny nose, sore throat, or slight cough, and feels well enough, they can go to school.
Your child should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if they have symptoms of COVID-19 and they either:
have a high temperature
do not feel well enough to go to school or do their normal activities
Chickenpox
If your child has chickenpox, keep them off school until all the spots have crusted over.
This is usually about 5 days after the spots first appeared.
Cold sores
There's no need to keep your child off school if they have a cold sore.
Encourage them not to touch the blister or kiss anyone while they have the cold sore, or to share things like cups and towels.
Conjunctivitis
You don't need to keep your child away from school if they have conjunctivitis.
Do get advice from your pharmacist. Encourage your child not to rub their eyes and to wash their hands regularly.
Ear infection
If your child has an ear infection and a high temperature or severe earache, keep them off school until they're feeling better or their high temperature goes away.
Hand, foot and mouth disease
If your child has hand, foot and mouth disease but seems well enough to go to school, there's no need to keep them off.
Encourage your child to throw away any used tissues straight away and to wash their hands regularly. You must inform the school of this illness.
Head lice and nits
There's no need to keep your child off school if they have head lice once they have been treated.
You can treat head lice and nits without seeing a GP.
Impetigo
If your child has impetigo, they'll need treatment from a GP, often with antibiotics. You must inform the school of this illness.
Keep them off school until all the sores have crusted over and healed, or for 48 hours after they start antibiotic treatment.
Encourage your child to wash their hands regularly and not to share things like towels and cups with other children at school.
Ringworm
If your child has ringworm, see your pharmacist unless it's on their scalp, in which case you should see a GP.
It's fine for your child to go to school once they have started treatment.
Scarlet fever
If your child has scarlet fever, they'll need treatment with antibiotics from a GP. Otherwise they'll be infectious for 2 to 3 weeks.
Your child can go back to school 24 hours after starting antibiotics. You must inform the school about this illness.
Slapped cheek syndrome (fifth disease)
You don't need to keep your child off school if they have slapped cheek syndrome because, once the rash appears, they're no longer infectious.
But let the school or teacher know if you think your child has slapped cheek syndrome.
Threadworms
You don't need to keep your child off school if they have threadworms.
Speak to your pharmacist, who can recommend a treatment.