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Crosshall Junior Academy Trust

Attendance

Absence Due to Sickness

If your child is unable to attend school due to sickness, please either telephone the School Office (01480 475972) or complete the electronic Absence Form before 9am on each day of absence.

Health and Dental Appointments

Please let your child’s teacher or the School Office (01480 475972) know as early as possible if your child will be absent for appointments.

Alternatively, use the electronic Absence Form or e-mail us if you know of the appointment more than 48 hours in advance.

Holidays in term-time

You have to get permission from the Head Teacher if you want to take your child out of school during term time.

You can only do this if:

  • you make an application to the Head Teacher in advance (as a parent the child normally lives with)
  • there are exceptional circumstances

It’s up to the head teacher how many days your child can be away from school if leave is granted.

Legal action to enforce school attendance

Local councils and schools can use various legal powers if your child is missing school without a good reason. They can give you:

  • a Parenting Order
  • an Education Supervision Order
  • a School Attendance Order
  • a fine (sometimes known as a ‘penalty notice’)

You can be given one or more of these but the council does not have to do this before prosecuting you.

Parenting Order

This means you have to go to parenting classes. You’ll also have to do what the court says to improve your child’s school attendance.

Education Supervision Order

If the council thinks you need support getting your child to go to school but you’re not co-operating, they can apply to a court for an Education Supervision Order.

A supervisor will be appointed to help you get your child into education. The local council can do this instead of prosecuting you, or as well.

School Attendance Order

You’ll get a School Attendance Order if the local council thinks your child is not getting an education.

You have 15 days to provide evidence that you’ve registered your child with the school listed in the order or that you’re giving them home education. If you do not, you could be prosecuted or given a fine.

Fines or "Penalty Notices'

Your local council can give each parent a fine of £60, which rises to £120 each if you do not pay within 21 days. If you do not pay the fine after 28 days you may be prosecuted for your child’s absence from school.

Check your local council’s rules on when you can be fined.

Prosecution

You could get a fine of up to £2,500, a community order or a jail sentence up to 3 months. The court also gives you a Parenting Order.