Attendance and Absence

Punctuality and regular attendance are vital if children are to make friends, be successful learners and make steady good progress. Children who miss days, or the beginning of the day, through lateness, become confused and are disadvantaged. If children are absent for a valid reason such as illness, this will be authorised as long as parents send a note, telephone the school to explain why and provide evidence from a medical professional. Children who have been sick or had diarrhoea, need to be kept off school for 48 hours after the last occurrence. Routine medical and dental appointments should be made outside of school time.

Unexplained absences or absences without a valid reason, are marked unauthorised on a child’s record. Children who arrive late (after 8.50 am) will be monitored and parents contacted to ensure these occurrences are kept to a minimum. Children arriving after the register closes at 9.10am will be marked with an unauthorised absence.

Term time holidays will not be authorised and may result in a fine. If there is an urgent need for a child to be taken out of school during term time, parents are required to fill in an absence request form in advance. The Headteacher will usually request to meet with the parents before making the decision as to whether the request will be authorised or not. Authorisation is rare and only agreed under exceptional circumstances.

To read our Attendance Policy in full click here

What happens if a child has an accident or becomes ill in school?

Our school welfare assistant and teaching assistants play an important part in caring for the well-being of the children. They are qualified to administer first aid if a child has a minor accident or becomes ill. Class teachers will let parents/carers know at the end of the day informing them of the injury/illness and the treatment given. If a child needs to go home or receive further medical treatment, parents will be contacted immediately. It is therefore vitally important that we have up to date contact information and that parents let us know of any changes. If we are unable to contact parents and we feel it is necessary for a child to go to hospital they will be accompanied by a member of staff.

Medicines

Apart from those children who require inhalers for asthma, or other regular medication prescribed by a doctor, medicines will only be administered in exceptional cases and after discussion with parents who will be required to fill in a consent form. We will only administer medicine that is required 4 times daily and prescribed by a doctor. Medicines must not be given to children or class teachers.

Child Protection Procedures

Parents should be aware that where the school has a reason to be concerned that a child may be subject to neglect, physical abuse or any other kind of abuse we are required to follow Barnet’s Child Protection Procedures and inform Social Services of our concerns. Our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy has further details.

Eco School Green Flag
Barnet Resilient Schools badge