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Thursday
23 May, 2013
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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, issued by Cambridgeshire County Council in February
2010, 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 Cambridgeshire County Council leaflets School
Attendance - Information for Parents/Carers (.pdf) and Family
Holidays During Term-Time and Extended Visits Overseas (.pdf). for initial
guidance and then complete the school's Request
Form for Planned Absence (.pdf) revised in April 2012.
It should be returned to the Attendance Officer in the General School office BEFORE the commencement of the period of absence and BEFORE making any bookings regarding the absence. |
| 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 break and the college will generally not authorise standard family holidays. Leave of absence during term-time will beconsidered on an individual basis and only granted in exceptional circumstances. |
| 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 26 April, 2012 |
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