{"id":14084,"date":"2026-06-09T07:07:32","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T07:07:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/originalmangogroup.co.uk\/flp\/?page_id=14084"},"modified":"2026-06-09T07:09:39","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T07:09:39","slug":"school-absences","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/futuralearning.co.uk\/schools\/puriton-primary-school\/school-absences\/","title":{"rendered":"School Absences"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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School Absences<\/h2>

As we approach the Winter months, it can be tricky deciding whether or not to keep your child off school when they’re unwell.<\/p>

There are government guidelines for schools and nurseries about health protection and managing specific infectious diseases at GOV.UK. These say when children should be kept off school and when they shouldn’t.<\/p>

If you do keep your child at home, it’s important to phone the school office on 01278 683630 before 8:30am to let them know.<\/p>

If your child is well enough to go to school but has an infection that could be passed on, such as a cold sore or head lice, let their teacher know.<\/p>

For the full NHS guidance, please click on the following link:\u00a0NHS Guidance<\/a><\/p>

\u00a0Absence due to\u00a0illness<\/strong><\/p>

If a child is absent due to\u00a0unexpected illness, parents are asked to contact the school each morning, so registration records can be maintained accurately. The school has a duty of care to ensure all absence is accounted for; without this, a “missing in education\u201d investigation could be initiated.<\/p>

Absence due to medical appointments\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

Parents are kindly requested to arrange all routine medical appointments (dentist, opticians etc) outside school times, since this minimises disruption to the child’s learning, as well as to the rest of the class.\u00a0If an appointment has to be made during the school day, as soon as the date and time are known, parents are asked to pop into the office with the appointment card or appointment letter, so that a note can be made and the teacher advised of the forthcoming absence.<\/p>

Absence due to\u00a0family holidays during term time<\/strong><\/p>

As a result of the Supreme Court ruling on 6th April 2017, it was confirmed that the meaning of \u2018regular attendance\u2019 has to be \u2018in accordance with attendance rules\u2019 i.e. that pupils attend at all times as required by the school.<\/p>

All requests for term time holiday absence must be made in writing at least two weeks before the proposed start of the holiday. Parents should be aware that holidays taken during the term time will not be authorised unless there are exceptional circumstances, as per Government regulations. Honesty is one of the core values of our school and we do appreciate parents notifying us of their intentions so children are not put in an awkward situation, they can share their experiences and we do not have to launch a \u201cmissing in education\u201d investigation.\u00a0<\/p>

If the school refuses your request and the child is still taken out of school, this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence and noted on your child\u2019s attendance record.\u00a0 You could also be issued with a penalty notice.\u00a0<\/p>