If your child is too ill to attend the school, parents/carers should contact the school main office as soon as possible:

• by telephone call 0116 2717421 and select option 1

• by email please contact admin@gartree.leics.sch.uk

• Please give us your Child’s Name, Tutor Group, the reason for the absence, and how long you expect the absence to last. We ask that you contact us each day that your child is absent unless you have given us an indication of how long the absence will last.

All routine medical and other appointments should be arranged out of school time. In exceptional circumstances, where an urgent appointment is required or for hospital clinic appointments that operate during the day only, we require sight of an appointment card or letter in order to authorise any absence from school.

We take our safeguarding responsibility seriously and automated texts are send out daily to the contact numbers of parents/carers if a student is absent from Tutor Time/Period 1 (8.30am to 9.30am), where the Office has received no reason for absence. Texts are made on a daily basis, even where your child has been absent due to illness on previous days. We cannot assume that your child is still ill unless you have notified us. We would not wish to put your child at risk by failing to contact you.

NOTE: Please ensure your child realises the importance of attending registration on time and getting their present mark. Parents/carers can also help by ensuring that we hold up to date contact numbers.

Parents/carers are strongly advised to avoid taking their children on holiday during term time. Requests during term time will not be authorised, time lost from education has a negative impact on student progress and achievement.

In exceptional circumstances written requests for extended leave should be made in advance to the Headteacher. Retrospective requests will not be considered and therefore will result in the absence being categorised as unauthorised.

All requests for leave of absence will be responded to in writing. Where a request has been granted the letter should state

• The expected date of return

• That parents/carers must contact the school should any delays occur

• That the student's place may be withdrawn if the family do not return as expected

If the permission to take leave is not granted the absence will be unauthorised, this will leave to a referral to the local authority attendance team and a penalty charge will be issued.

With the introduction of the new National Framework for Penalty Notices, the following changes will come into force for unauthorised absences that occur after 19th August 2024.

5 Consecutive Days of Term Time Leave

Penalty Notice fines will be issued for term time leave of 5 or more consecutive days, and for fewer days where this has happened before.

10 Sessions of Unauthorised Absence in a 10-week period

Penalty Notice fines will be considered when there have been 10 sessions of absence in a w0-week period.

Per Parent, Per Child

Penalty Notice fines will be issued to each parent, for each child who was absent.

For example: 3 siblings absent for term time leave will result in each parent receiving 3 separate fines.

First Offence

The first time a Penalty Notice is issued for Term Time Leave or irregular attendance the amount will be £160 per parent, per child when paid within 28 days. Reduced to £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days,

Second Offence (Within 3 Years)

The second time a Penalty Notice is issued for Term Time Leave or irregular attendance the amount will be 160 per parent, per child when paid within 28 days (No option to pay £80 level)

Third Offence and Any Further offences (Within 3 Years)

The third time an offence is committed for Term Time Leave or irregular attendance a Penalty Notice will not be issued. The case will proceed to the Magistrates' Court. Magistrate's fines can be up to £2,500 per parent per child.

We monitor students’ attendance and punctuality very closely. We follow up unexplained absence with parents/carers by telephone and/ or by letter.

Where a student’s attendance reaches a concerning level, we will contact you by letter, telephone, or home visit to discuss ways in which we can work together to support you and your child. We may invite you to a meeting in school to discuss your child’s attendance and how the School can support you to improve this.