By law, all children of compulsory school age (between 5 and 16) must receive a suitable, full-time education, at school or otherwise. As a parent you are responsible for making sure this happens. You can achieve this by registering your child at a school or by Electing to Home Educate your child. Parents will need to inform the Head Teacher of their child’s school in writing if they are considering the option to home educate.  If the child is not yet enrolled in a school, the parents should inform the Local Authority.

Once your child is registered at a school, you as a parent are responsible for making sure they attend school regularly. If your child fails to attend regularly, even without you knowing, the Local Authority may take legal action against you. The Local Authority is responsible for making sure that parents fulfil their responsibilities.

Parents are responsible for making sure that their registered children attend school regularly.

• Where it states parents this refers to parents, carers or guardians

Authorised absence: Is it permissible for your child to be away from school?

There may be times when your child has to miss school if they are ill. When your child is too ill to attend school, you should contact the school on the first morning of absence and keep the school informed if the absence continues for more than a day.

Children may also have to attend medical or dental appointments in school time. However, parents should make every attempt to make routine appointments, such as dental check-ups after school or during the school holidays.

This is not a definitive list and if parents are requesting that their children have time off for other reasons then it is advisable that they contact the Head Teacher as only they can authorise absences during school time.

Birthdays and shopping trips are not acceptable reasons for absence and will not be authorised. If your child is going to be absent for any reason, you must contact the school.