Uffington Church of England Primary School is committed to providing a full and efficient education for all pupils.  The school believes sincerely that all pupils benefit from the education it provides and therefore from regular school attendance.  To this end the School will do as much as it can to ensure that all pupils achieve maximum possible attendance and that any problems affecting attendance will be dealt with as quickly as possible.

The information below explains the school's policy on authorised and unauthorised absence:

Authorised absence is where the school has either given approval in advance for a pupil to be away or has accepted an explanation offered afterwards as a satisfactory reason for absence.

All other absence must be regarded as unauthorised.

The following may be reasons for authorising absences.

• Illness
• Family bereavement
• Wedding of a parent or close relative
• Medical and dental appointments where proof is available.
• Days of religious observance.
• Fixed term exclusion
• Permanent exclusion until removed from roll or re-instated.

Family Holidays:

Headteachers are not able to authorise absences due to family holidays taken in term time. and may only authorise such absences in exceptional circumstances. At Uffington CE Primary School, the governors have decided that exceptional circumstances are as follows:

• Holidays provided for families of children with disabilities by registered children’s charities, e.g the Make a Wish Foundation;
• Observation of religious festivals which are fundamental to a family’s culture and beliefs.

Requests should be made by submitting a leave of absence request form, and will be assessed on an individual basis. The Headteacher will make the decision in the first instance but there will be a right of appeal to the Chair of Governors.

The Use of Penalty Warnings and Penalty Notices for Unauthorised Holidays in Term Time

The school retains the right to issue Fixed Penalty Notices for unauthorised holidays during term time. Lincolnshire County Council has a Code of Conduct with clear guidance on the issuing of such notices. The school will follow the correct procedures in instructing the local authority to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice on its behalf.

Please click on the link below to access a full copy of the school's Attendance Policy.

How parents can help us:

• Ensure that their children attend school regularly and that they arrive on time.

• Contact the school whenever their child is absent, giving details of the reason or the absence and the length of time the child will be away.
• Help their child prepare for the school day by ensuring that homework has been done and the child has everything he/she needs for the day ahead.
• Attend Parents' Consultation Evenings to discuss progress or problems and talk to the staff if there are problems or changes in family circumstances which may affect the child.
• Contact the school if problems arise which may keep their child away from school, so that the school can help.

Absence

If your child is not well enough to come to school, a telephone call or email to the school office at the earliest opportunity is much appreciated. In this way we can ensure that all children who should be in school have arrived safely.

If you wish to keep your child away from school for any reason (hospital appointment, etc), notification by email or telephone in advance is requested.