Attendance
At Haslingfield School, we want every child to enjoy their learning and make the most of each school day. Good attendance helps children feel settled, build friendships and make steady progress.
We work closely with families to support regular, punctual attendance and are always here to help if you’re finding it difficult. Together, we can make sure your child gets the best possible start.
Reporting illnesses
If your child is too unwell to attend school, please let us know by 8:30am.
You can do this by
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dropping into the school office
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emailing us or
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leaving a voicemail on our dedicated absence line: 01223 870457
We ask that you please contact the school each morning your child is absent so we can update our records and ensure they are safe.
If you’re unsure whether your child is well enough for school, the NHS provides helpful guidance on common illnesses and when children should stay at home:
Medical appointments
We ask that medical appointments are arranged outside school hours whenever possible.
If your child does need to attend an appointment during the school day, please return them to school as soon as the appointment has finished so they miss as little learning as possible.
Planned absences
For planned absence, the legal position is clear: parents do not have the right to take children out of school for holidays during term time. By law, parents must request permission for any term‑time absence. If permission cannot be granted, the school is required to report the absence to the County Education Welfare Officer. This may result in a £60 penalty notice per parent, per child, and in some cases, prosecution.
A Headteacher may only authorise term‑time leave in exceptional circumstances, and full details will be required. If you wish to request leave, please complete the application form. All sections must be fully completed, signed, and submitted to the School Office at least two weeks before the requested absence. Incomplete forms cannot be considered.
Each request is reviewed individually once the test of “exceptional circumstances” has been met. The school will then consider factors such as:
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the time of year of the proposed absence
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proximity to any test or assessment dates
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the child’s overall attendance
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whether any previous requests have been made during the same school year
Planned absence forms are also available from the School Office.
Authorised or Unauthorised?
There are two types of absence from school:
Authorised Absences — These are absences where the school has agreed the reason, or where a parent/carer has provided a satisfactory explanation (for example, illness).
Unauthorised Absences — These occur when a pupil is absent without permission from the school or when the reason given is not acceptable under attendance regulations.