Attendance
Pupils are expected to attend school every day in order to achieve their full academic potential and develop social and personal skills so vital to success as they grow into young adults.
We expect them to attend school 100 % of the time with a minimum target of at least 97%, though we recognise, of course, that there are sometimes genuine medical reasons which prevent this from happening. In these cases, we require parents and carers to inform us at the earliest opportunity so that we are fully aware and can support them when necessary.
We monitor pupil attendance figures carefully and will intervene once concerns are raised. We work closely with our designated Educational Welfare Officer who will become involved if serious non-attendance develops.
The Attendance Manager based in the school is Mrs. Susannah Bennett
Term-time absence requests
Term-time absences will not be authorised unless highly exceptional circumstances are established and supporting paperwork is submitted well in advance. Our current form is available on the link below.
Alternatively, forms are available from the Attendance Officer via Main Reception and Student Reception.
PLEASE NOTE THAT TERM-TIME HOLIDAYS ARE NEVER AUTHORISED
Attending school regularly helps children achieve their goals
83.7% of pupils with no missed sessions over KS4 achieved grades 9 to 4 in English and maths compared to 35.6% of pupils who were persistently absent – source GOV.UK
Is your child ill or unwell?
Attendance is crucial to your child’s success. There are too many children that are allowed to remain at home if they are unwell or have a minor illness. A rule of thumb is that if your child does not need to see a doctor then it is more than likely that they can attempt to come to school.
Unwell but should be in school
Headache / Earache / Cough / Cold / Sore throat / Period pain / Feeling sick
If your child has Hand, foot and mouth, Headlice, Threadworms, Glandular fever, Tonsillitis or Slapped cheek they can come to school, but please inform our Student Welfare Officer of their condition.
More often than not, those students that make it to school feel better as the day progresses and enjoy being with their friends.
Parents and carers should encourage their child to attend school. Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty says a prolonged period of absence is likely to heighten a child’s anxiety about attending school in the future.
Quick tips to help your child feel better before school starts
- Fresh air
- Sips of a cold drink (hot lemon with honey for a cough)
- Small breakfast & snacks for the day
- Painkillers
Quick tips if your child is feeling anxious about coming to school
- Create a morning routine
- Think together about how your child can manage their anxious feelings
- Encourage them to do things that help them relax
- Recognise small achievements
Wellbeing and Mental Health
Please see our Wellbeing page on the school website. Additional support for Sleep and Anxiety is available at www.hcrgcaregroup.com/about-us/areas-we-cover/wiltshire-childrens-community-services/
Too ill for school?
To find out when it's best to keep your sick child at home and when it's OK to send them to school, please visit the following website https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/
When can my child return to school?
Chicken Pox
At least 5 days from the onset of the rash and until the blisters have crusted over.
Please inform the school, as pregnant members of staff or those with low immunity may be affected.
Diarrhoea / vomiting bug
48 hours after their last episode.
Cold and Flu-like illness
They no longer have a high temperature and feel well enough to attend.
Impetigo
Their sores have crusted and healed or 48 hours after they started their antibiotics.
Measles
4 days after their rash has appeared.
Please inform the school, as pregnant members of staff may be affected.
Mumps
5 days after the swelling started.
Scabies
They’ve had their 1st treatment.
Scarlet fever
24 hours after they started taking their antibiotics.
Whooping cough
48 hours after they started taking their antibiotics.
Covid-19
Until they feel well enough to resume their normal activities, and no longer have a high temperature.
Please refer to the NHS website for further details https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/
How can we help?
You can give our Student Welfare Officer over-the-counter medication, painkillers or medication prescribed by a doctor specifically for your child to dispense on your behalf. All medication needs to be named and supported by our consent form that you will need to complete, this is available on our website, paper copies are available at Student Reception and Reception.
If your child feels unwell during the school day, they can inform a member of staff who will then refer them to our Student Welfare Officer Mrs Hammond for support.
Sanitary products are available for free throughout the school. Students just need to approach a member of staff.
Medical evidence
If your child has missed school for 6 days or more due to illness, we will request evidence in the form of:
- A doctor’s appointment card/text with dates and times
- Hospital discharge letter
- A current prescription
These can be e-mailed to attendance@corsham.wilts.sch.uk
When should I make medical appointments?
(Doctor, dentist & orthodontist)
If possible, you should try to make these before 8.40am or after 3pm. This shall ensure your child will not miss out on essential learning.
Signing-in and out
Please ask you child to do this at Reception in
L Block or the Attendance Office in H Block
Leaves of absence
Term-time absences will not be authorised unless highly exceptional circumstances are established and supporting paperwork is submitted well in advance, a link and further information is available on our website.
Where a student’s unauthorised absence amounts to 10 sessions or more within a 10-week period (this now includes arriving after the register closes at 9.10am) the Education Welfare Service will be notified, and the Local Authority may issue a Penalty Notice to each parent for each child, as follows.
First offence penalty notice - £160 per parent, per child, this is reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days.
Second offence penalty notice - £160 per parent, per child, paid within 28 days.
Third offence and further offences (Within 3 years) – The third or subsequent time an offence is committed for unauthorised absence, a penalty notice will not be issued and the case will be presented straight to the Magistrates Court.
Contact us
School Gateway app
Email: attendance@corsham.wilts.sch.uk
or studentreception@corsham.wilts.sch.uk
Telephone: 01249 713284
Notification of unavoidable absence (e.g. illness)
| email: | attendance@corsham.wilts.sch.uk |
|---|---|
| free text message: | 07507 271013 |
| phone absence line: |
01249 713284 Attendance Officer - Mrs Susannah Bennett |
Messages can also be sent using a smartphone or tablet through the School Gateway app available from the School Gateway website.