Attendance and Illness

Attendance and illness in our Primary Phase

Regular school attendance is essential for children to build a strong foundation for learning, develop a sense of achievement, and feel connected to their school community, helping them thrive both academically and socially. 

We understand that there are times when it is in a child’s best interest to stay at home; however, knowing when this is necessary can sometimes be unclear. Below are the government guidelines to follow to help make this decision. If you decide that your child is too unwell to come to school please report this by 8.30am using Study Bugs.

It’s fine to send your child to school or nursery with a minor cough or common cold if they are otherwise well and do not have a high temperature. But if your child has a fever, they should stay home from school or nursery until they feel better, and the fever has resolved.

If they have diarrhoea and/or vomiting, they should stay home for at least 48 hours after the last episode.

It is no longer recommended that children and young people are routinely tested for COVID-19 unless directed to by a health professional. But if your child has tested positive for COVID-19, they should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day they took the test. Children and young people who usually go to school, college or childcare and who live with someone who has a positive COVID-19 test result should continue to attend as normal.

If your child has the symptoms of measles and has not had both doses of the MMR vaccine, they should not attend school.

The NHS has a useful guide to help parents decide whether a child is well enough to go to school, based on their symptoms.

Medical appointments

Wherever possible, medical/dental appointments should be arranged outside school hours. Where this is not possible please email primary@bohunthorsham.com with proof of appointment where possible. Failure to provide either of those may result in the absence being unauthorised.

Holidays in term time

Headteachers have been directed by the Government not to authorise any absence from school unless there is an ‘exceptional’ circumstance. You must get permission from the headteacher if you want to take your child out of school for a holiday in term time.

It’s up to the headteacher on how many days your child can be away from school if it is granted. You must get permission from the headteacher if you are planning to take your child out of school during term time. To request an authorised absence please complete the google form below.

Your child may be allowed to miss school for the following exceptional circumstances:

• a death in the family or funeral
• a wedding of a close family member
• to observe a religious celebration

If you do not get permission and you take your child out of school, this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.

In West Sussex, they may issue a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) if a pupil has accrued unauthorised absence from school and the school has referred the matter to them. For more information please visit the School Absences page on westsussex.gov.uk.