Attendance and Absence

REPORTING AN ABSENCE

If your child is unwell, please ensure that you contact school by 9.00 a.m. by either Class Dojo or telephone 01733 262878 opt 1.

If you do not contact us we will attempt to contact you by Class Dojo or telephone to find out why your child is not in school. Unnotified absences will be recorded as unauthorised.

If your child has a local medical appointment during the school day for a limited time slot we ask that your child is only absent from school for the duration of the appointment. A copy of the appointment letter / text will need to be seen.  A whole day absence will not be authorised in these circumstances.

Please note:  Children suffering with diarrhoea or vomiting should not be brought back to school until they have been free of symptoms for 48 hours.

ARRIVING LATE TO SCHOOL

School opens to pupils at 8.40 a.m. and registers close at 9.00 a.m.  Pupils who arrive between 9.00-9.20 a.m. will be marked as an authorised late.  Late arrivals after 9.20 a.m. are marked as unauthorised late which is an unauthorised absent mark for the morning session.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

We will ONLY authorise Leave of Absence under exceptional circumstances.  Holidays are NOT considered to be an exceptional circumstance. The Governors of Heltwate School consider that ‘exceptional’ circumstances do not occur regularly by definition and are one-off occasions.

Requests for exceptional leave of absence should be made at least 4 school weeks in advance and will be considered on an individual basis by the Headteacher as delegated by the Governing body (or in their absence by a Deputy Headteacher).  Forms are available to download below or on request to the school.