A member of Dales Academies Trust 
We are required to keep detailed records of children’s school attendance. If your child is unwell and unable to come to school, please email or call the school office on 01609 776273 by 9.00am each day, stating the nature of the illness. Authorised absences are recorded when your child is ill or visits a doctor.
We have high expectations for attendance. It is also important your child is punctual.
Unauthorised absences are recorded when we do not know why your child is not in school, when your child is late for school or if you take term time holidays. Parents can only apply for absence in exceptional circumstances. If you wish to take your child out of school during term time you will need to complete a leave of absence form which can be obtained from the school office. Strict government guidelines are now in place in regard to term time leave.
Attendance
Parents have a legal duty to ensure that their children attend school regularly and that they arrive on time. We aim to be above government targets of 95%. A list of term dates is given at the beginning of the year and parents are asked to keep this list in a safe place. This is also available on our website.
There will be times, however, when children are unavoidably absent, illness being the most obvious example. On these occasions, please inform school as soon as possible, on the first day, stating the nature of the illness and the date when normal schooling is likely to resume. Notification should be by personal contact or a telephone call. However as a result of the latest DCSF Guidance, we will contact parents on any day a registered pupil is absent without explanation.
Please try to arrange for medical and dental appointments to take place out of school hours. Parents are reminded that the school profile includes information on the number of authorised and unauthorised absences.
Leave of absence
No parent/guardian can demand leave of absence as of right. The Education regulations state that applications for leave must be made in advance by a parent with whom the child lives and can only be authorised by the school in exceptional circumstances. Each application is considered individually by the school. Application forms are available from school or on the website.
If you wish to take your child out of school during term time you will need to complete a leave of absence form available here or which can be obtained from the school office.
