Late/Absence Procedures
Absence/Lateness Reporting
Good attendance at school provides vital continuity of learning for your son/daughter. If your child is absent from school for any period, they will miss important elements of their learning. Absence on unforeseeable grounds (illness, travel disruption or emergency medical appointments) should be communicated to the school by phone on 01525 220431 or e-mail EPAManager@epa-primary.org on each and every day of absence before 8.50am. This should be followed up in the form of a written note from the parent/carer, though verbal explanations may be acceptable where this is considered appropriate. Alternative arrangements will be agreed with non-English speaking parents/carers.
The school gates open at 8.20am, so that the register can be taken at 8.30am. Pupils who arrive after this time will be marked as present, but having arrived late. The register will close at 8.50am. Pupils arriving after the close of register will be recorded as being absent. This will not be authorised and will be counted as an absence for that schools session. The absence will only be authorised if a satisfactory explanation for the late arrival can be provided, for example, attendance at a medical appointment. (Code M) .
If your child is absent due to sickness, they must not return to school for 48 hours following their last bout of sickness.