Attendance

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We work with an Education Welfare Officer to support pupil attendance, they may contact parents regarding their child’s absence.

Absence due to Illness

Children who are clearly unwell should not be sent to school. North Somerset Education Department stipulate:

Knowing when your child should stay at home from school or nursery if they are poorly can help slow the spread of many winter illnesses.

If your child is unwell and has a fever, they should stay home from school or nursery until they feel better, and the fever has resolved.
If your child has diarrhoea and/or vomits, they should stay off school or nursery for at least 48 hours after their symptoms clear up. Those who are sent back too early are likely to make a slower recovery and may pose a health risk to others.

Adults should try to stay home when unwell too.

Children with a runny nose, sore throat, or slight cough who are otherwise well and do not have a high temperature can continue to attend their education or childcare setting.

In the event of absence please follow the procedure below:

Please report any pupil absence by telephone as early as possible (by 09:15) and leave a message on the absence line, or email the school office.
If your child remains unwell and you have no confirmed return date, please update the school office on each day of absence.
If a reason for absence has not been received on the first day of absence we will attempt to make contact with the first person on the child’s contact list. If this is unsuccessful we will approach the other identified contact. If we are unable to reach any contacts and no notification is given, and where we are concerned about the whereabouts of a child, we may be required to call the local authority for support.

If pupils have a medical appointment please present the appointment card/letter to the school office via email enquiries@stje.bwmat.org

DfE external document template (childrenscommissioner.gov.uk)

Updated guidance from the Department of Education came into force in August 2024

‘Pupil Absence Request for Exceptional Circumstances’ form