We lose valuable learning time when children are absent or late.
If your child will be late or absent, you must contact the school before 8.30am.
Illness
It can be tricky deciding when to keep your child off school when they’re unwell. See the NHS advice on Is my child too ill for school?
If your child is ill and cannot attend school, you must let us know.
Please ring the school on 01323 893450 before 8.40am on the first day of absence. Leave a message with your child’s name, class and the reason for absence.
If your child is off more than one day, you will need to call and inform the office each day. Then we know your child is safe.
Late to school
At Seaford Primary School we take the register at:
- 8.40am
Children who arrive after 8.40am must enter the school by the office and report to reception.
We will record their name and reason for lateness.
When pupils arrive after 9am this is an unauthorised absence.
Medical appointments
If possible, please make appointments for the doctor or dentist outside of school hours. Where this is not possible please let us know the appointment date and time in advance, and provide a copy of the appointment letter or text.
You can send a letter or tell the school secretary and provide your child’s name, class and reason for absence.
Holidays in term time
Holidays in term time disrupt a child’s education.
Did you know that across the year there are just 190 school days? That means there are already 175 days set aside for weekends, holidays, family visits and rewarding days out. We believe every school day counts to give your child the greatest opportunity of attaining a good education and to support a happy and healthy future.
With 175 days already marked out as ‘non-school-days’, you should have an exceptional reason to withdraw your child from school.
You must fill in a Withdrawal From Learning form which can be printed here or you can also get one from the school office. The headteacher will decide whether to authorise this absence.
Guidance to headteachers is that these should only be authorised in VERY exceptional circumstances.
By completing and submitting this form you understand that if the request is unauthorised the Legal Interventions Team at East Sussex County Council will be notified of the absence taken and a legal intervention may be instigated in the form of a Penalty Notice. You also understand that if a Penalty Notice is issued it will be to each parent for each child taken out of school. You also acknowledge the following:-
· A limit of no more than 2 penalty notices will be issued to the same parent for the same pupil within a 3-year rolling period will apply from 19 August 2024.
· The first penalty notice issued to the parent for that pupil will be charged at £160 if paid within 28 days reducing to £80 if paid within 21 days.
· Where it is deemed appropriate to issue a second penalty notice to the same parent for the same pupil within 3 years of the first notice, the second notice is charged at a flat rate of £160 if paid within 28 days.
· A third penalty notice will not be issued within a 3-year period. Therefore, in cases where the threshold is met for a third (or subsequent) times within those 3 years, a penalty notice cannot be issued, and alternative action will be taken instead. This will often include considering prosecution but may include other tools such as one of the other attendance legal interventions.
· You understand that if you do not pay the penalty notice this will result in legal action.