Parents should:

  • Inform the school in advance if they expect a child to be absent for any reason
  • Contact the school on the first day of absence, usually by phone, if a child is absent through sickness
  • Send a note giving the reasons for absence when a child returns to school (if they omitted to contact the school beforehand)
  • Inform the school if they need to pick their child up from school early
  • Telephone the school if they are unavoidably delayed in picking up a child from school
  • Make sure the school has correct addresses and phone numbers
  • Ensure the school has names, addresses and phone numbers of people who can be contacted in an emergency

 Special Leave

  • If parents are requesting term-time leave they must complete a request form which is considered by the Head Teacher
  • Southwark Education Welfare and Attendance Service support its schools in discouraging such absences.
  • The law in regards to term-time holiday states that parents do not have the right to take their child out of school for holidays during term time. All requested leave during term time must be discussed and agreed with the Head teacher and in exceptional circumstances a short period of absence may be agreed by the Head Teacher. It is not a right.
  • If the request is not authorised a warning letter will be issued and a copy will be placed in the child’s record folder. The absence will be marked as an unauthorised absence.
  • The school can off roll your child if they have been gone for 20 consecutive days.
  • Any further term-time leave may result in a fixed penalty notice being issued which will require parents to pay a fine of £60 per parent/carer.
  • Further absence could result in other legal action being taken.
  • See policy for further information

NEW PARENT REQUEST FOR EXCEPTIONAL LEAVE FORM