School Attendance Information for Parents/Carers

Introduction

Receiving a good full-time education will give your child the best possible start in life. Attending school regularly and punctually is essential if children are to make the most of the opportunities available to them. The law says that parents must ensure that their child regularly attends the school where he/she is registered.

What you can do to help

Make sure your child arrives at school on time. This encourages habits of good timekeeping and lessens any possible classroom disruption. If your child arrives after the register has closed without a good reason, this will be recorded as an ‘unauthorised’ absence for that session.
If your child has to miss school it is vital that you let the school know why, preferably on the first morning of absence. (Your child’s school will have an attendance policy explaining how this should be done.)
If you know or think that your child is having difficulties attending the school you should contact the school. It is better to do this sooner rather than later, as most problems can be dealt with very quickly.

Authorised and Unauthorised Absence

If your child is absent and the school either does not receive an explanation from you, or considers the explanation unsatisfactory, it will record your child’s absence as ‘unauthorised’, that is, as truancy.

Most absences for acceptable reasons will be authorised by your child’s school:

Sickness
Unavoidable medical or dental appointments (if possible, arrange these for after school or during school holidays)
An interview with a prospective employer or college
Exceptional family circumstances, such as bereavement
Days of religious observance.

Your child’s school will not authorise absence for the following reasons:

Shopping during school hours
Day trips
Holidays which have not been agreed
Birthdays
Looking after brothers or sisters or ill relatives.

True/False/Not given

Is Your Child at School Today?

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