School Opening Hours:

Legally the register must be marked twice daily. This is once at the start of the school day at

8.40am and at the commencement of the afternoon session at 1pm.

• The school day begins at 8.40 am and all pupils are expected to be in school at this time
• Morning registration is at 8.40 am and it closes at 9.00 am.
• All lateness is recorded daily. This information will be required by the courts, should a prosecution for nonattendance or lateness be necessary.
• Arrival after the close of registration will be marked as unauthorised absence and coded ‘U’ in line with Hampshire County Council and Department of Education guidance. This mark shows them to be on site, but is legally recorded as an absence.
• If a pupil is late due to a medical appointment, they will receive an authorised absence, coded M

Please be advised that, where possible, doctors and dentists appointments are to be made outside of school hours or during school holidays.

Absence:

If your child is absent you must:

• Contact us as soon as possible on the first day of absence. This can be done by phone, e-mail or in person at the school office.

If your child is absent we will:

• telephone or text you on the first day of absence if we have not heard from you by 9am. This is because we have a duty to ensure your child’s safety as well as their regular school attendance.

• Should we not be able to contact the parent directly by 9.30am, we will make contact with other named points of contact that the parents have provided us with.

• If there continues to be no contact by 10am, the Headteacher will be notified and a decision may be made to visit the child’s address or contact the police for their assistance.

If you wish to take your child out of school, you must request authorisation from the Headteacher.

Schools are only able to authorise absence from school in exceptional circumstances. It is the Headteacher's decision on whether the absence is exceptional and how many days to approve.

Please note: There is no general right to authorise absence for a family holiday. If you take your child out of school without permission, the absence will be marked as unauthorised and we will consider legal action.

Please complete the 'Absence Request Form' below and return to the school office with any additional evidence if appropriate. You are advised not to make any arrangements until your request has been considered.

For further guidance and information explaining Penalty Notices, please click on the links below:

Hampshire County Council:     Attendance Guidance