Absence; Sickness and Holidays in Term Time
Please notify the School Office if your child is not going to attend school. If the absence is for more than one day, you must call the Office on each day of absence.
SICK CHILDREN
The academy has no facilities for the care of sick children. Should your child be taken ill, you will be requested to collect them from school. Children who have been absent from school due to a sickness bug must remain at home for at least 48 hours after the symptoms have subsided. Should a child have an accident at school then a parent will be contacted and medical help sought if necessary. The school has many qualified First Aiders: – Children who feel unwell should not be sent to school. It would be helpful if parents could notify the school of any infectious illnesses, whooping cough, measles etc. Should a parent require a child to remain indoors during school break-times for health reasons, then a request should be made in writing or by telephoning the school to inform the class teacher.
MEDICINES
Medicines, including cough sweets, must not be brought into school by children. Should your child require medication prescribed by a doctor, then it should be brought to the school office by a parent, who is required to sign a permission slip for the school to administer the drug, with the understanding that the medicines are ultimately the responsibility of the parents. NO OVER THE COUNTER MEDICINES WILL BE ADMINISTERED TO CHILDREN. Sun block may be brought into school during the summer providing it is clearly marked with the child’s name. It must be handed to the class teacher, who will keep it in a safe place. Staff are not allowed to apply the cream but the child may apply the cream themselves at lunchtime and must not allow others to use it. Alternatively, arrangements can be made for a parent to return to school to apply the cream. Only sun block on prescription will be administered by the school.
Holidays During Term Time
They could cost more than you think! The Department for Education has renewed appeals to parents not to take their children out of school during term time. The Governors and Principal of Priorslee Academy support this and have decided that children will only be given permission to take leave in term time if there are exceptional circumstances.
Please check the Academy’s Term Dates.
Did you know:
- The law says that parents do not have the right to take their child out of school for holidays during term time.
- Parents cannot demand leave of absence for the purpose of holidays as a right.
- The Governors do not have to authorise leave in term time other than in exceptional circumstances.
- Unauthorised leave in term time could result in each parent receiving a Penalty Notice costing up to £120 for each child, or each parent could be taken to court.
The sample letters below (click to open) are the official letters issued to schools following the 1st of September 2013 change in legislation.
To request a holiday during term time parents are required to complete a
Parents will receive a refusal or (only in exceptional circumstances) a permission letter
Following 5 days unauthorised absence for the purpose of a holiday during term time, the academy is required to issue a referral notice to the Attendance Support Team (AST) at Telford and Wrekin Council AST Referral for penalty notice
Telford and Wrekin Council will then serve a Holiday Penalty Notice fine of £60 per parent per child rising to £120 if not paid to T&W Council within 21 days. Thereafter, failure to pay the £120 within the period 22 to 28 days may result in Court action.
There is more information on Telford and Wrekin’s Website