Here at Selling CEP School we are committed to providing a full educational experience for all pupils. We believe that if pupils are to benefit from education, regular attendance is vital. Regular and punctual attendance ensures that your child settles well, is happy at school and able to take advantage of all that Selling CEP School has to offer.

Following feedback from parents, carers and staff and taking into consideration the DfE’s minimum expectation on the length of the school week (see information note here), we have reviewed our school hours to bring us in line with the recently published Whitepaper. This is to ensure a richer, longer average school week which makes the most effective use of time in school and ensures our children enjoy a rounded education.

These new times  meet the expectation that schools are open for a minimum of 32.5 hours.

From Term 2, our school day will be as follows:

Total of 32.9 hours per week (The expectation does not apply to pupils in Reception)   

Lateness

Pupils arriving after 8:55 am must enter school by the main entrance and report to the School Office where you will be asked to sign them in.

Absence

It is the parents’ responsibility to contact the school on the first day their child is absent by telephone before 9:30 am. 

This is a safeguarding requirement so that all parties know that your child is safe.  We operate a first day calling system which means that if we have not heard from you by 9:30 am we will call you. If we are unable to speak with you, staff may visit your home or seek advice from other agencies.

Requesting a leave of absence

If you are needing to take an unavoidable leave of absence for your child please complete this form, which will be sent to Mrs Adcock our Trust Attendance Officer, who will respond at her earliest convenience.

When your child is unwell, it can be hard deciding whether to keep them off school.

A few simple guidelines can help

Would you take a day off work if you had this condition? If so, keep your child at home.

Click here for Sickness NHS Guidelines

Not every illness needs to keep your child from school. If you keep your child away from school, be sure to inform the school on the first day of their absence.

Use common sense when deciding whether or not your child is too ill to attend school. Ask yourself the following questions.

• Is your child well enough to do the activities of the school day? If not, keep your child at home.
• Does your child have a condition that could be passed on to other children or school staff? If so, keep your child at home.

Common conditions

If your child is ill, it’s likely to be due to one of a few minor health conditions.

Whether you send your child to school will depend on how severe you think the illness is. This guidance can help you make that judgement.

Remember: if you’re concerned about your child’s health, consult a health professional.

• Cough and cold. A child with a minor cough or cold may attend school. If the cold is accompanied by a raised temperature, shivers or drowsiness, the child should stay off school, visit the GP and return to school 24 hours after they start to feel better. If your child has a more severe and long-lasting cough, consult your GP. They can give guidance on whether the child should stay off school. 
• Raised temperature. If your child has a raised temperature, they shouldn’t attend school. They can return 24 hours after they start to feel better. Learn more in Feverish illness in children.
• Rash. Rashes can be the first sign of many infectious illnesses, such as chickenpox and measles. Children with these conditions shouldn’t attend school. If your child has a rash, check with your GP or practice nurse before sending them to school.
• Headache. A child with a minor headache doesn’t usually need to be kept off school. If the headache is more severe or is accompanied by other symptoms, such as raised temperature or drowsiness, then keep the child off school and consult your GP.
• Vomiting and diarrhoea. Children with these conditions should be kept off school. They can return 48 hours after their symptoms disappear. Most cases of vomiting or diarrhoea get better without treatment, but if symptoms persist, consult your GP. 
• Sore throat. A child who complains of a slight sore throat and has no other symptoms is fit to go to school. A sore throat with a high temperature is an indication that the child should stay at home
• Conjuctivitis.  Guidance from Public Health England (PHE) (the Health Protection Agency) states that it is not necessary to exclude a child from school or from childcare if they have infective conjunctivitis, unless there is an outbreak of several cases. 
• Tonsillitis.  Guidance from Public Health England (PHE) (the Health Protection Agency) states that it is not necessary to exclude a child from school or from childcare.  There are many causes, but most cases are due to viruses and do not need an antibiotic.
• Headlice. Guidance from Public Health England (PHE) (the Health Protection Agency) states that it is not necessary to exclude a child from school however treatment is recommended where live lice have been seen to prevent an outbreak in school.
• Impetigo.  Your child cannot attend school until lesions are crusted and healed, or 48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment.  Antibiotic treatment speeds healing and reduces the infectious period 

  It’s important to inform the school if your child is going to be absent. On the first day of your child’s illness, telephone the school to tell them that your child will be staying at home. The school may ask about the nature of the illness and how long you expect the absence to last.

If it becomes clear that your child will be away for longer than expected, phone the school as soon as possible to explain this.

School telephone number:  01227 752202

Attendance monitoring and support

Miss Clark and Mr Paez monitor children's attendance. The school wants to support families who are experiencing difficulties with absence. Please contact Miss Clark if there is anything school can support you with.