Illness
If your child is ill and cannot attend school, you must let us know before 08:30am that day by emailing admin@roundwoodprimary.herts.sch.uk or calling the office on 01582 460756. Please keep us informed each day that your child is absent from school, unless discussed with the school office. Do not forget to cancel your child’s Relish school meal if they are not in school.
If your child has sickness or diarrhoea, in line with the Health Authority’s recommendation, you must keep them at home for 48 hours after the last bout of illness. Please see the attached poster for advice on different illnesses and attendance.
Shoud I keep my child off school checklist poster (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Children should not bring medicines into school. If your child should need to take medicines during the school day, we are happy for a parent or nominated person to come to school to ensure correct dosage is received (but please report to the school office). If a child needs antibiotics 3x per day, we would ask that you do all doses at home. If they need more frequent medication, please contact the school office and complete a medication form in order than staff can administer medicine.
If your child has an accident or becomes unwell and is clearly unable to continue to stay at school, we will always contact you or the person nominated by you.
Respiratory infections including COVID
We always follow the latest advice regarding self-isolation and COVID. From April 2022, this has been
- Children and young people should not attend if they have a high temperature and are unwell.
Children and young people who have a positive test result for COVID-19 should not attend the setting for 3 days after the day of the test.
People with symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Lateness
Punctuality is an important life skill, which children need to learn and have modelled to them. Children who are late are disrupting not only their own education but also that of their classmates.
Our school gates are open from 08:25. It is expected that all children arrive at this time so that they can get into school, hang up bags and coats and are ready for registration by 8.30am.
Fifteen minutes after the close of registration a late mark becomes an unauthorised absence. The register will officially close at 8.45am. Arrival after this time a child will be coded “U” which statistically counts as an unauthorised absence.
Where persistent lateness gives cause for concern further action may be taken. In the first instance this will involve a discussion with the parent or carer followed by a letter home if the situation does not improve.
Did you know that 5 minutes late each day adds up to 3 lost days of learning time each year!
Every school day counts!
Request for leave / Absence during term time
As you may be aware from the 19th August 2024 new regulations for school attendance has been implanted. All schools by law must follow the Department for Education’s statutory guidance relating to school attendance. They must use the appropriate national attendance or absence code, and follow the criteria set out within the guidance. The statutory guidance states:
- A leave of absence must not be granted unless there are exceptional circumstances and must be requested in advance.
- A leave of absence must be requested in advance by a parent who the pupil normally lives with.
- Schools must judge each application individually, considering the specific facts and circumstances and relevant background context behind each request.
- Where a leave of absence is granted, the school will determine the number of days a pupil can be absent from school.
- A need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation would not constitute an exceptional circumstance.
- A school cannot grant a leave of absence retrospectively. If the parent did not apply in advance, the leave of absence should not be granted.
- Where the guidance refers to a parent, the school and/or local authority will need to decide which adult(s) is most appropriate. Generally, parents include:
- All natural parents, whether they are married or not
- All those that have parental responsibility.
- Those who have day to day responsibility for the child.
Taking your child out of school during term time could be detrimental to their educational progress. If the absence is not authorised and the leave is taken, schools may refer to the Local Authority for legal action.
Please click here for information regarding Helping Parents understand Penalty Notice Fines for School Attendance. This attachments provides information on the fines that are issued for unauthorised absences. Please click here for ‘Leave of Absence’ form. This form will need to be completed for any leave of absence that you are requesting for your child/ren. (This does not need to be completed for medical appointments). Paper copies are available from the school office. The online form should be completed, or paper copy emailed/returned to the school, before any travel arrangements are made.