Absence and Illness

Illness

If your child is unwell, please do not send him / her into school and please do let us know the reason for the absence by 9.00 am 01244 421332 (a message can be left on the school answer phone).

If your child has sickness or diarrhoea they must be kept off school for at least 48 hours after the last episode of vomiting and / or diarrhoea.

The school keeps a record of contact telephone numbers or addresses in the event of illness or accident to your child. If a child is absent from school because of illness parents should telephone school each day of the absence to explain or inform the school of the expected length of absence if longer than a day. If you wish your child to be collected by someone other than yourself or if there is to be an arrangement other than the normal one, again a note or telephone call is essential so that staff can ensure the correct procedure is carried out.

For more information on specific illnesses please refer to the NHS website https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

Absence ( Not illness)

Please come into the school office to request an Absence during Term Time Form

The Department for Education (DfE) implemented important amendments to legislation surrounding holidays in term time. As of the 1st September 2013, the new law does not give any entitlement to parents to take their child on holiday during term time. Any applications for leave of absence must be in exceptional circumstances and the Head Teacher must be satisfied that the circumstances warrant the granting of leave.

An “authorised absence” is:

An absence for sickness for which the school has granted leave.
Medical or dental appointments which unavoidably fall during school time, for which the school has granted leave.
Religious or cultural observances for which the school has granted leave.
An absence due to a family emergency.

An “unauthorised absence” is:

Parents keeping children off school unnecessarily or without reason.
Truancy before or during the school day.
Absences which have never been properly explained.
Shopping, looking after other children or birthdays.
Day trips and holidays in term-time which have not been agreed.
Leaving school for no reason during the day.

Fixed Penalty Notices For for Unauthorised Holidays- information from the Fixed Penalty Office at Cheshire West & Chester Council.

Parents may be fined by the Local Authority for taking their child on holiday during term time without consent from the school. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, the Local Authority may issue FPN's for any unauthorised absence of 5 consecutive school days (10 sessions) or more during term time.

Should an unauthorised absence take place the school will inform the Local Authority and a Fixed Penalty notice will then be issued in accordance with section 444 of the Education Act 1996.

The law stipulates that the current penalties payable by parents/carers are £60 per child when the penalty is paid within 21 days, increasing to £120 when the penalty is paid within the next 7 days (giving a total of 28 days to pay). This penalty is per parent/ carer per child during the duration of the absence.

Medicine

If your child requires medicine to be taken during the school day, you need to complete a medical administration form in school with a member of staff.

We cannot give your child medicine unless you complete and sign this digital form.

Medicines must be in the original container as dispensed by the pharmacy with your child's details printed on them.

EPILEPSY AWARENESS

Essential tools to assist someone having a tonic clonic eizure, Epilepsy Action is offering a free, go to guide.

It doesn't have to be scary. All you have to do is CARE.

C - Comfort. Cushion theur head with something soft.

A - Action. Time the seizure and clear the area of anything harmful. Check for any Medical ID bracelets.

R - Reassure. After the seizure stops, put the person in the recovery position and reassure them.

E - Emergency. Call 999 if the person has a longer lasting seizure, lasting longer than 5 minutes and is not regaining conciousness. if he/she goes straight into another seizure and has trouble breathing aftrer the seizure has stopped or has never had a seizure before.

Click here to find out more.