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/
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 their 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.
Absence - Not illness
Please come into the school office to request an Absence during Term Time Form or download the form below and send to the school office.
An “authorised absence” is:
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An absence for sickness for which the school has granted leave.
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Medical or dental appointments which unavoidably fall during school time, for which the school has granted leave.
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Religious or cultural observances for which the school has granted leave.
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An absence due to a family emergency.
An “unauthorised absence” is:
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Parents keeping children off school unnecessarily or without reason.
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Truancy before or during the school day.
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Absences which have never been properly explained.
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Shopping, looking after other children or birthdays.
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Day trips and holidays in term-time which have not been agreed.
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Leaving school for no reason during the day.
Fixed Penalty Notices For for Unauthorised Holidays
The Education Regulations 2013 came into force on 1 September 2013 and made it clear that head teachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless ‘exceptional circumstances’ prevail. Head Teachers are only empowered to approve a leave of absence when it is requested in advance by the parent or carer with whom the child resides and when circumstances of the requested leave are ‘exceptional’. Generally, a need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation would not constitute an exceptional circumstance during term time.
We are now required that should you still choose to take a leave of absence with your child, the Local Authority will be informed as this will constitute an unauthorised absence. A Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) will then be issued in accordance with section 444 of the Education Act 1996. The law stipulates that the current penalties payable by parents are £160 if paid within 28 days reducing to £80 if paid within 21 days per parent/carer per child.
You should be aware that the National Framework for Penalty Notices introduced a new national limit of 2 penalty notices that can now be issued to a parent for the same child within a rolling 3 year period. If a second Fixed Penalty Notice is issued to the same parent for the same child, within three years of a first Fixed Penalty Notice, the second Fixed Penalty Notice is charged at a flat rate of £160 if paid within 28 days. If an unauthorised leave of absence is taken for a third time (or subsequent times) within 3 years of a first FPN being issued, another tool will need to be considered such as prosecution or other attendance legal interventions.
If a fixed penalty notice is issued to you and is not paid, this could lead to you being prosecuted in the Magistrates’ Court. Please see Cheshire West and Chester Council’s code of conduct that can be found on the council’s webpage:
Cheshire West School Attendance
