Attendance
Requests for absence from school in exceptional circumstances and Penalty Notices.
You are required under the Education Act (1996) to ensure your child attends school regularly. If your child accrues 10 consecutive sessions of unauthorised absence you may be liable for a penalty notice (1 day equals 2 sessions and a 5 day absence is equal to 10 sessions). You may also be liable for a penalty notice if your child accrues 10 sessions of unauthorised absence in a 10 week period.
An unauthorised absence is any absence that the Head teacher has not given permission for or where an explanation has not been provided by the parents.
If you are thinking of taking your child out of school parents must complete a Request for Absence in Exceptional Circumstances Form. You must allow sufficient time to enable the school to consider the request and inform parents of the decision.
Where parents do not follow the school's procedure of submitting a request and simply remove their child without seeking prior approval, a warning may not be given and you may be liable for a penalty notice.
Exceptional circumstances could include:
- Service personnel returning from a tour of duty abroad, where it is evidenced the
individual will not be in receipt of any leave in the near future that coincides with
school holidays: - Where an absence from school is recommended by a health professional as part of a parent or child’s rehabilitation from a medical or emotional issue.
- The death or terminal illness of a person close to the family.
- To attend a wedding or funeral of a person close to the family.
Please note: Evidence would be required in each case.
If your request is declined or you do not follow the correct procedure and you still take your child out of school each parent within your household may be issued with a £160 penalty notice for each child you have taken out of school. This is reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days. If after 28 days it remains unpaid you may be summonsed to appear before Magistrates to explain why your child has unauthorised school absences and you may be liable for a fine of up to £1,000.00.
Please see below the TEAL procedure for processing term time absences, the form you will need to complete along with our attendance policy and other useful information.
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TEAL Absence from School for Exceptional Circumstances Form | [pdf 275KB] |
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Absence-from-School-for-Exceptional-Cirucumstances-Procedure | [pdf 135KB] |
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Every School Day Matters Info Sep 2024 | [pdf 346KB] |
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Medical & Dental Appointments
Should your child need to see a medical advisor, where possible, please try to arrange appointments outside of school hours, if this is not possible please provide the school with an appointment card or letter confirming the appointment. This enables school to
annotate your child’s records in line with the Local Authority guidelines for absence.
If your child is ill and cannot attend school, you must let us know before 9:15am that day by calling the office on 01430 430767 or you can e-mail us on howden.infants@eastriding.gov.uk
If your child has sickness or diarrhoea, in line with the Health Authority’s recommendation, you must keep them at home for the recommended 48 hours after the last bout of illness. For up to date guidelines on school absence please read the East Riding Council leaflet:
Children should not bring medicines into school. If your child should need to take prescribed medication during the school day, we have medical forms that can be completed to enable school to administer the medicine in accordance with the prescription. Please speak to the office who will be happy to advise you further.
If your child has an accident or becomes unwell and is clearly unable to continue to stay at school, we will always contact you or the person nominated by you.
For clarity on procedures regarding appointments in school time please click on the leaflet below.
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Medical Appointments Parental Guidance | [pdf 488KB] |
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