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Thursday
02 September, 2010
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Information Index:
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There are two types of absence from school: authorised
and unauthorised:
Authorised Absences are those where the pupil has received
authorisation from a teacher or authorised representative of the school
or where satisfactory explanations have been received from a parent/carer
(e.g. pupil illness.)
Unauthorised Absences are those where a pupil is absent from school
without the permission of a teacher or representative of the school
(i.e. truancy). |
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| Educational
Authority Policy: |
| Please
refer to "School
Attendance - Information for Parents/Carers" (.pdf),
a policy leaflet issued January 2008 by Cambridgeshire County
Council's Education Department. The leaflet covers general
topics as 'Regular Attendance', 'Holidays During Term-time',
'Extended Visits Overseas', 'What Parents Can Do to Help',
'Education Welfare Officers' and then explains some aspects
of 'The Law' relating to a pupil's absence from school. |
| Another policy
leaflet, also issued by Cambridgeshire County Council in January
2008, gives further
detailed information relating to Family
Holidays During Term-Time and Extended Visits Overseas
(.pdf). |
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| Planned Absence Notification: |
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If
you are planning to take pupils out of school (perhaps for a
family holiday or on religious grounds), the school needs to
be consulted before the planned period of absence. |
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refer to CCC leaflet School
Attendance - Information for Parents/Carers (.pdf) for initial
guidance and complete the Request
Form for Planned Absence (.doc) revised for September 2007.
The Request Form should be completed and signed by the parent/carer
and sent to the Head of Year well before the start of the period
of absence and before making any bookings relating to
the absence. |
| Important note: Parents/Carers
are strongly urged to avoid booking a family holiday during
term-time. Parents do not have any right or entitlement to take
their child out of school for a term-time holiday, and Comberton
Village College will not as a rule authorise leave for such
holidays. |
| If the pupil is absent from school
and where advance authorisation has not been agreed, the college
will record an 'unauthorised absence' (i.e. truancy) against
the pupil. |
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| Same
Day - Online Notification: |
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For
'same day' notification (short-term illness or doctors' appointments
etc) parents/carers can register pupil absences using CVC's
online Notification Form. You
will need to know your child's tutor group and the name of their
form tutor. Parents/carers should notify pupil absences as soon
as possible, ideally by 8.30am on each morning of absence. |
| If the
pupil is absent from school and a notification of absence is
not received, the college may record an 'unauthorised absence'
(i.e. truancy) against the pupil. |
| If a pupil is required
to leave the school premises during the school day (perhaps
to go to a medical or other appointment) the parent/carer
should also write a short explanatory note in their child's
School Diary. |
| This authorisation will be checked
by the pupil's form tutor and/or teacher of the lesson they
are leaving. The pupil must also 'sign out' (at the School Admin
Office) before leaving the school premises so the school has
a record of them being off-site in the event of a fire evacuation
or other emergency. The pupil should 'sign in' on their return. |
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| Same
Day - By Phone Message: |
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For
'same day' notification (short-term illness or doctors' appointments
etc) parents/carers can also register pupil absences by phone.
The direct line for absences only is 01223 262503
option 3, where parents or guardians can leave a message
stating pupil name, tutor group and the reason for absence.
Parents/carers should notify pupil absences as soon as possible,
ideally by 8.30am on each morning of absence. |
| If the
pupil is absent from school and a notification of absence is
not received, the college may record an 'unauthorised absence'
(i.e. truancy) against the pupil. |
| If a pupil is due to leave school
premises during the school day (perhaps to go to a medical appointment)
the parent/carer should also write a short explanatory note
in their child's School Diary. |
| This authorisation will be checked
by the pupil's form tutor and/or teacher of the lesson they
are leaving. The pupil must also 'sign out' (at the School Admin
Office) before leaving the school premises so the school has
a record of them being off-site in the event of a fire evacuation
or other emergency. The pupil should 'sign in' on their return. |
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| General
Notes: |
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If the circumstances
of a pupil absence do not fit any of the above scenarios,
parents/carers should phone 01223 262503 option 3 and
leave a brief explanation and contact number. A member of
staff will call you back during the morning to discuss the
details. |
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Parents/carers are asked to notify the College
by 8.30am on each day of pupil absence, unless alternative
arrangements have been agreed. |
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Upon notification, details will be entered on
the pupil records and the relevant staff will be informed. |
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Any pupil found using
the notification facilities with the intention to mislead
or gain advantage will have committed a significant breach
of school discipline. Such misuse will result in disciplinary
procedures being opened by Comberton Village College. |
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For long term medical
absence, please refer to School Policy Pupils
Absent From School On Medical Grounds (.doc). |
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What is the responsibility
of parents/carers concerning school attendance? |
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Can parents/carers be
prosecuted if they do not send their children to school? |
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What is the responsibility
of Local Education Authorities concerning school attendance? |
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Can Pupils go on holiday
in term time? See also Family
Holidays During Term Time and Extended Visits Overseas
(Cambridge County Council). |
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What are the statutory
requirements for reporting pupil attendance to parents/carers?
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What is the situation
regarding withdrawing a child, on religious grounds, for a
day? |
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Can a school take a child to court for persistent truancy?
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This page was last updated on: Thursday 13 May, 2010 |
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