Absences from School
To ensure the smooth running of the School and the safety of all pupils, parents are asked to inform school before 10:00 if their child is to be absent. Please telephone our Attendance Officer on 01254 686300 – then choose Option 1 for each day your child is absent. On return to school, the child should bring a signed note from their parent or carer explaining the cause of absence along with any doctor’s note. For the welfare of all pupils, parents should notify school immediately if their child is suffering from an infectious illness, or has been in contact with a serious infection. Any of the ‘norovirus’ symptoms (vomiting/diarrhoea) should mean that pupils are kept at home for 48 hours so infection of other pupils is kept to a minimum. Similarly, pupils who have had a temperature should be kept away for at least one fever-free day.
If your child is required to miss P.E. for an illness-related reason, please put this in writing for your child’s Form Teacher to inform the P.E. staff. All pupils are expected to swim unless a doctor’s note is provided. It will otherwise be assumed that your child is fit to attend these lessons. Failure to report a pupil’s absence will result in an unauthorised absence being recorded.
ILLNESS (whilst at school)
If a pupil becomes ill or injured whilst at school, there are qualified first aiders on the staff within the School who will attend to any minor ailment. We will, however contact you on your emergency contact number to collect your child if we feel they should go home. We will always call you should your child receive an injury to the head or face. Therefore, it is essential that all emergency contact numbers are kept up-to-date.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
All medical and dental appointments must be booked outside of School hours, where possible. For rare appointments, where obtaining an appointment outside School hours is not possible, permission must be sought in advance from the Head and an appointment card or letter must be provided to the Receptionist, either before or after the appointment.
Leave will not be granted for holidays during term-time other than under absolutely exceptional circumstances and unauthorised absences may be liable for a Local Authority penalty notice.
Leave will be granted for attendance at university interviews, but permission must be sought in advance from the Head.
The onus is on the student to excuse him/herself from lessons in good time, sign out at Reception, and to make up the work missed.
MEDICINES
We are unable to administer non-prescribed medicine to pupils. If your child needs to take any doctor prescribed medication during the school day, please ensure that you complete a Medicine Consent Form obtained from Reception. A member of School staff will administer the medicine to your child as per your instruction, detailed on the form. Please remember to collect your child’s medication from Reception at the end of the school day.
HEAD LICE
Head lice are an unfortunate but occasional fact of school life. We have a particularly stringent policy regarding head lice and fortunately, occurrences here are rare. A pupil will be sent home for treatment if head lice are found. If you do notice eggs or lice in your child’s hair, please treat them immediately and inform your child’s Form Teacher. A standard note will go home to all pupils, advising parents to check their own child and treat if necessary.