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Gravel Hill Primary School

We are a group of like-minded schools working in partnership to harness the richness of our diverse learning communities for the benefit of all pupils.

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Absences

Reporting Absence

  • Parents must report absence via Studybugs on the first day of child’s absence giving the reason why he or she is not in school. If we do not hear from parents then a phone call or text is sent by the school office to the parents.
  • For advice on deciding whether or not to keep your child off school please visit Is my child too ill for school? This website provides information on length of time to keep your child off school and what treatments they need for the illness. 
  • If a child is absent but we don't know the reason why, we will make every effort to contact parents/carers and emergency contacts.  If, by 12pm, we have still not been able to make contact we will either arrange for our Parent Support Advisor or Attendance Officer to carry out a home visit, or we will contact the police and/or social services.
  • Parents who are continually having to be chased for an explanation for their child’s absence will be notified that unless contact is received all absences will be unauthorised and a referral to the Education Welfare Service (EWS) may be made.
  • Children arriving after 9.25am, unless for a notified reason (e.g. doctor’s appointment), will be recorded as having an unauthorised absence.
  • Attendance is celebrated termly by the Head Teacher or Deputy Head Teacher in Achievement Assemblies

What is Studybugs?

Studybugs is an efficient and secure system for reporting your child's absence due to illness. Parent/carers are able to download the free studybugs app or register on the Studybugs website and use it to tell us whenever your child's ill and unable to attend school.

Register now by clicking the following link or download the app - https://studybugs.com/about/parents

Top 3 reasons to use Studybugs

  1. It’s integrated with our systems, so we know right away if your child is unaccounted for.
  2. It’s quick and easy to register and use and automatically reminds you to keep us posted.
  3. You’ll be helping the NHS and other public health organisations improve children’s health. (https://studybugs.com/about/schools)

 Monitoring Absence

• The attendance of all pupils is monitored regularly by the Head Teacher and school office.  If your child's attendance falls below 90% we will follow the procedures below:

• Stage 1 - School Intervention.  School office will call parents, if no reason is known, to ascertain reason for absence.  If they are unable to make contact with a parent we will instruct our PSA (Parent Support Advisor) or Attendance Officer to make a home visit.

If no improvement proceed to Stage 2

• Stage 2 - Parent Support Advisor Intervention.   PSA will contact parents to offer support and intervention to improve attendance.

If no improvement proceed to Stage 3

• Stage 3 - Meeting with Head Teacher.  School invite parents to meet with Head Teacher to outline need for improvement.  If no improvement a referral will be made to SEAAS.

If no improvement proceed to Stage 4

• Stage 4 - South Eastern Attendance Advisory Service (SEAAS) Intervention.  SEAAS to contact parents via phone, letter or home visit.  Parents are invited into school for a meeting with SEAAS and an action plan will be drawn up.  This will run for 3 weeks and then be reviewed.  

If no improvement proceed to Stage 5

• Stage 5 - Official Warning letter.  SEEAS will send a letter with 15-20 day warning to improve attendance.  If attendance has improved, we will be in contact with parents and monitor attendance.

If no improvement proceed to Stage 6 

• Stage 6 - Pre prosecution.  Parents will be invited to a Pre prosecution meeting and will be offered the last opportunity to improve attendance or the matter will be referred for Prosecution.  

If no improvement parents referred to Court.

Long Term Absence

• Where a child is off sick for more than 5 consecutive school days then medical evidence might be requested (e.g. a copy of the prescription).

• If no proof of illness is provided then the absence will be recorded as unauthorised and could lead to a referral to the Education Welfare Service.

Term Time Holidays

September 2013 amendments to the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations (2006) state that Headteachers may not grant holidays of any description. Furthermore, Headteachers may not grant any leave of absences during term time, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

If you feel you need to remove your child from school due to exceptional circumstances, please submit any requests to the school office.