Attendance and Holidays

Back

ATTENDANCE POLICY

At Deer Park Primary School, strive for excellence and enjoyment in education by providing a safe, secure, caring family environment, where all are valued and respected as individuals.
We will endeavor to enable the children to reach their full potential, by making the most of the opportunities that our school has to offer. We expect all children on roll to attend every day when school is in session, so long as they are fit and healthy enough to do so. We do all we can to encourage the children to attend and offer an environment in which pupils feel valued and welcomed.
Regular and punctual attendance is an essential prerequisite to effective learning. At Deer Park Primary School we aim to develop an ethos which demonstrates to children, parents/carers and the wider community how much we value good attendance and punctuality.

Exceptional Circumstances

Only in exceptional circumstances will a request for absence from school be authorised and this will only be for a very short period of time.
Examples of this would be:

• Funeral of a close relative – 1 day 
• Close family wedding – 1 day
• Medical appointments which cannot be arranged outside the school day

All requests, in writing, should provide details and reasons why the absence is considered to be exceptional. The Headteacher, in accordance with the above criteria, agreed by the governing body, will determine if the absence will be authorised. Absence cannot be authorised retrospectively.
In line with national and local guidance the school would like to outline clearly when permission will not be granted:-

• During transition time as a pupil is settling into the school.
• Before or during Year 6 SATs or important revision periods leading up to these.
• If the pupil already has unauthorised absences.
• Availability of cheap holidays and cheap travel arrangements
• Days overlapping with the beginning or end of term.
• Birthday of pupil or family member.

Family holidays do not meet the criteria for exceptional circumstances. Consequently, absence for holidays will not be authorised and will be recorded as unauthorised.

Download the full Attendance Policy

Leave of Absence Request Form