Attendance, Sickness & Medication
Attendance
Research has shown that children’s academic progress is very closely related to attendance at school.
The school must collect and report details of absence by law which is monitored closely. Lateness is also monitored.
Excellent attendance is celebrated and promoted through assemblies and rewards.
The full details of our attendance policy are in the link below. Please read this in addition to the summary points on this page.
Leave of Absence in Term Time
We believe that children need to be in school for all sessions, so that they can make the best possible progress.
Parents are discouraged from withdrawing their children from school in term time for family holidays because this may impact on their progress. Holidays taken in term time will be unauthorised.
Headteachers may only authorise Leave of Absence in term time in exceptional circumstances. Parents must complete an Application for Leave of Absence form stating why they are requesting leave during term time. For a digital version of the form, please click on the link below. This form should be completed and returned to school no less than ten school days before the proposed leave and before committing to any expense and parents must be available to discuss the request with the Headteacher / Deputy Headteacher, by telephone or in person.
An EPN request will be submitted to the Local Authority for all leaves of absence of 5 days or more. Parents who remove their child from school purporting to be ill or otherwise unavoidably absent and subsequently found to have taken a holiday may also receive an Education Penalty Notice.
Absences
When a child is absent unexpectedly, the class teacher will record their absence on the register. This is then followed up by an administrator within the office and if no reason has been given, a phone call to the parents / carers will be made. If no contact is made, we will contact the other names on our system to try to identify why the child is absent from school. This is part of our Safeguarding procedures.
It is important that parents / carers inform the school of absence as soon as possible by leaving a voice message on the absence line, by emailing attendance@sacredheart.wirral.sch.uk or by using the Arbor Parent Portal or App before 8.45am on the morning of each day the child is absent.
Appointments
We do ask that any appointments, where possible, be made outside of school. If it is necessary to take your child out of school for an appointment, your child must be collected by an adult and signed out at the school office. Please notify the office in advance by emailing attendance@sacredheart.wirral.sch.uk and include a photograph or screenshot of your childs appointment card/letter. If no evidence for the appointment is received, this will be an unauthorised absence.
Medications
If your child requires medicines in school, such as antibiotics or pain relief, please complete the medication agreement by clicking on the link below.