Absence
Illness and medical appointments
Parents need to ensure they inform both the class teacher and the school office using the email absence@bowdoncs.org for children who will not be in for morning registration at 8:40am.
The school office will contact parents to verify unnotified absences, ensuring the safety of all children.
If children in Year 5 or 6 are walking to school without adult supervision please inform your child’s class teacher and the school office that this is part of their usual routine: these children will be prioritised if they do not arrive on time.
Can we also remind parents that medical appointments whenever possible should be arranged outside of school hours but in circumstances where this is not possible, school should be notified at least 24 hours in advance using the email: absence@bowdoncs.org or the contact form belowPupil absence due to illness or medical appointments
Please leave your child's name, class and reason for absence with dates if known. This does not replace the absence request form for planned absences - see below
Governors’ Policy Regarding Holiday requests
Until September 2013 Head teachers have had some discretion when they have received holiday requests. The current regulations make clear that head teachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. Examples given are absence for funerals, illness, medical appointments and examinations.
All unauthorised absences must now be reported to the Educational Welfare department, these include incidences where absence for illness has been requested but the school receive information that a holiday is being taken instead.
Parents/carers who take their children out of school without authorisation are liable to receive a penalty notice (fine) and in the case of either repeated unauthorised absences or those exceeding five days in total during a term; the child may be removed from the school’s register.
Attendance information for the whole of primary school life is now frequently requested by secondary schools when they are allocating places.
Unfortunately school governors have no flexibility, even where parents/carers are restricted by work commitments and they must enforce the regulations.