If your child is going to be absent from school please telephone the school 0191 4240550 and leave a message with the secretary on the first day of illness, or send a note.
If the school is not informed about an absence then we are legally obliged to record it as “unauthorised”, i.e. truancy.
When your child is ill please do not send him/her to school.
If your child becomes ill at school, or has an accident, you will be notified immediately so please make sure that we always have up to date contact numbers for you.
Collecting Children
All children in Reception through to Year 4 must be collected from school at the end of the school day by an adult. Adults must meet children at the doors and not the school gates. Children will be handed over to their parent/carer or if you have informed the teacher/school, another known adult (over the age of 16), at their cloakroom doors. There are no exceptions to this. It would be appreciated if you collect your children on time. If you are going to be late you are able to book them into the after school club at a cost of £7.00 per session.
When your child reaches Years 5 & 6 you may think that they are responsible enough to walk home from school alone or with friends.
The school requires written permission to allow your child to walk home from school alone which will be kept on file.
Medical Appointments
Children who need to be away from school for medical visits (doctors, hospital, clinics) must inform the office by showing proof of the appointment (letter or appointment card etc.).
If you wish your child to return for dinner please let us know before 10.00am.
An adult must collect children who need to attend medical appointments during the school day. Under NO circumstances will children be allowed to leave the premises on their own. Adults must report to the School Office to arrange collection of their child.
Holidays in Term Time
The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 currently allow headteachers to grant leave of absence for the purpose of a family holiday during term time in “special circumstances” of up to ten school days leave per year. Headteachers can also grant extended leave for more than ten school days in exceptional circumstances.
Amendments to the 2006 regulations remove references to family holiday and extended leave as well as the statutory threshold of ten school days. The amendments make clear that headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. Headteachers should determine the number of school days a child can be away from school if the leave is granted.
This information is available to view on the DfE Website.
Due to the changes in these regulations this school will only grant a child leave of absence in exceptional circumstances and only for 10 school sessions (5 school days). You must apply at least one month prior to the planned absence or your application may be refused.
Holiday during term time is not considered to be an exceptional circumstance.
More information can be found on school attendance on the local council website.
Important Information for Parents.
Changes as of 19th of August 2024 to the issue of Penalty Notices to address School Attendance.
Dear Parent,
THE EDUCATION (PENALTY NOTICES) (ENGLAND) (AMENDMENT)
REGULATIONS 2024 No. 210.
New legislation comes into force on 19.08.24 regarding the criteria and the issue of penalty notices to address school attendance to commence in South Tyneside September 2024.
The following changes have been made:
• the number of unauthorised absences to 10 unauthorised absences (5 days) in the most recent 10 school week period.
• the number of penalty notices that can be issued to a parent in respect of the same individual child to 2 within a 3-year period.
• It increases the amount of the penalty notice from £120 to £160 (if paid within 28 days) and £60 to £80 (if paid within 21 days) for the first penalty notice issued to a parent in respect of the same individual child in a 3-year period.
• It sets the amount of any second penalty notice issued to the same parent in respect of the same individual child within 3 years of the date the first penalty notice was issued to £160 to be paid within 28 days. No discount is offered.
• Further absences will proceed for prosecution in the Magistrate Court for the same parent in respect of the same child within 3 years of the date of the first penalty was issued.
Further information can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-improve-school-attendance
Email SYP@southtyneside.gov.uk
You can ring/email your child’s school.
Yours sincerely,
Graeme Stobbs – Attendance Manager