Pupil Attendance
Being around teachers and friends in a school is the best way for pupils to learn and reach their potential. Time in school also keeps children safe and provides access to extra-curricular opportunities and pastoral care. That’s why school attendance is so important and why the Government is committed to tackling the issues that might cause some children to miss school unnecessarily.
Here’s what you need to know about school attendance.
Pupil Absence From School Due To Illness
To report your child's absence from school due to illness, please telephone our Office Team on 01428 642 177 before 8.55am on the day of absence and on all subsequent days your child remains off school.
Please consult the advice below from The Public Health Agency with regards to when your child should stay off school and when your child should return to school.
*Please note that it is West Sussex policy that ALL illnesses resulting in antibiotics (including Scarlet Fever) being administered that children remain at home for 48 hours from the start of the course to ensure there are no adverse side-effects and for the medication to be given a full chance to start to work.
Absence Requests
ALL requests for absence from school in term time must be accompanied by a completed Absence Request Form.
Requests for absence (with the exception of emergency medical appointments) must be made at least 5 days in advance of the requested date(s).
Requests for absences other than for medical appointments will only be considered for exceptional circumstances. There is no entitlement for family holidays in term time.
The law states that parents must ensure their children regularly attend school to receive their education. The Headteacher can only authorise absence in exceptional circumstances. Exceptional is likely to be rare, significant, unavoidable and short.
Whether the absence is exceptional is at the Headteacher’s discretion based on their assessment of the situation and the child’s current attendance figures. The Government considers attendance acceptable if above 95%.
You may be asked to provide evidence to support your request.
Please complete the absence request form with full details and return to the Office (office@camelsdale.w-sussex.sch.uk) copying in your child's class teacher.