Attendance
At Marlborough Primary School we believe that good attendance and punctuality are important in helping students achieve the best that they can be. Students should be at school on time dressed in accordance with the school uniform policy, and ready to learn, every day the school is open, unless the reason for absence is unavoidable.
The school is obliged by law to differentiate between authorised and unauthorised absence. A letter or telephone message from a parent does not itself authorise an absence. It is for the Head Teacher to determine if an absence is to be authorised (The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006). The school will only authorise a medical absence if the circumstances are unavoidable. If a parent rings the school to confirm the student is unwell the school will request supporting evidence such as:
- Medical appointment card with the appointment entered
- Letter from a professional
- Doctor’s note
- Medication prescribed by a doctor
- Copy of prescription
- Letters concerning hospital appointments or any other relevant evidence
Parents are asked to make routine medical and dental appointments outside school hours wherever possible. Where such appointments in school time are unavoidable, parents should inform the school in advance and submit a copy of the appointment card. The medical absence will be marked unauthorised if the parent fails to submit supporting evidence.
