New Statutory Attendance Guidance Information
The Department for Education (DfE) released new statutory guidance in February 2024, ‘Working Together to Improve School Attendance’. New legislation behind this guidance is The School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024. All schools in England will be required to follow the guidance, thevisual above illustrates what this means for parents.
Once a child is enrolled at a school, parents/carers are by law responsible for ensuring they attend school regularly. The new statutory guidance has created a legal obligation for all schools to promote attendance positively, take early action to prevent absence occurring and offer support to families when exploring absence from school to secure a child’s right to access their education. It also emphasises the importance of good attendance being a key driver for learning, achievement, and personal success whilst recognising that often, support is required to achieve good attendance.
Notification of Absence
If your child is going to be absent from school please ring before 9.30am on the first day. You will be able to leave a message stating name, class and reason for absence. If a specific reason has not been left we may call you back. When a child is absent and no call has been received, we will call you to find out why your child is not in school.
Please ring to report your child's absence on 01223 870364.
Punctuality
School starts at 8.55am for all classes. We believe that punctuality is an important social courtesy and regularly arriving late to school not only disrupts your child's opportunities for learning but those of the children in his/her class. Children arriving late must access the school via the school office where they are registered and the reason for his/her late arrival is recorded. Where the child arrives after registration has closed (8.55am - when the school gates are closed) the absence will be recorded as unauthorised. Late arrivals are monitored by the school and interviews will take place with parents where there is concern.
Medical Appointments
We ask that non urgent appointments such as dental checks and routine vaccinations are made outside of school hours wherever possible.
If your child has a hospital or specialist appointment please bring the letter to the school office where a copy can be placed on their file as proof of authorised absence.
To collect your child during the school day please visit the school office to sign your child out of school.
Absence
Please inform the office by email, office@hauxton.cambs.sch.uk, or phone, 01223 870364, before 9:30 am if your child will be absent from school.
If you are unsure if your child is too ill for school, the NHS website contains really useful information to support your decision making: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/
Sometimes when a child has a cough or cold they appear more congested first thing in the morning; a dose of paracetamol with their breakfast may be enough to manage their symptoms and enable them to attend school. We are happy to administer further paracetamol at lunchtime, if required. In order to do this we would require you to complete an 'Administration of Medication form' (available to print through the link below). This must then be dropped off at the School Office, with your child's medication, and we will administer the medication in line with your instructions. If a child's symptoms worsen, despite medication, during the school day you may be called and advised to collect your child.
In an effort to reduce the spread of infections, children who have suffered from vomiting or diarrhoea are expected to remain at home for at least 48 hours after the illness ceases. Those children must also refrain from school swimming lessons for 7 days after the illness ceases.