At primary level, the pace of development in children is so fast that just a handful of days missed can cause disruption to a child’s learning journey. We will always help your child to catch up on missed work where possible but continued absence may affect your child’s ability to exceed their potential.

Regular attendance at school promotes pupils’ well-being and gives them the best chance of learning and reaching their potential. Pupils should attend school every day the school is open unless the reason for the absence is unavoidable.

All children have the right to an education. In line with our school motto, we strive for excellence in all we do and this includes attendance. We encourage and expect at least 96% attendance for all pupils. 

Attendance Ladder

What happens if my child needs to be absent from school?

We do understand that all children can become unwell from time to time but do ask that you think carefully before keeping your child from school. If your child is needing to be absent from school, in the event of sickness for example, we would expect you to report absence by 9am.

Absence should be reported by either;

• Calling 01296 651237 and selecting option 1

• Emailing: office@waddesdonprimary.com 

Please note that you will need to telephone to school on each day of absence – even if the absence is continuous.

If we do not receive an explanation, or if the explanation is unsatisfactory, we will not authorise the absence and a home visit may be completed by a member of the Senior Leadership Team and Senior Mental Health Lead.

Request for Pupil's Absence during Term Time

Waddesdon Village Primary School expects all children to attend school regularly and, as such, will not authorise any extended leave or holidays during term time unless in exceptional circumstances. We expect parents to share the same commitment to learning and to plan holidays and leave during the school holidays. If, in the extreme case, parents wish to request leave in light of exceptional circumstances, they must write to the Headteacher giving at least ten school days of notice. The Headteacher will consider each application and the school will respond to parents with the outcome of the application.

As a school operating under Buckinghamshire Council, we are obliged to follow their policy with the escalation of unauthorised absence. As a parent, you are entitled to make representation to the Headteacher detailing the exceptional circumstances in which your request is based upon. If the reasons for absence detailed in the request are not deemed to be exceptional, the school may refer the absence to the Local Authority: 

• The first penalty notice issued to a parent in respect of a particular pupil will be charged at £160 if paid within 28 days. This will be reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days.
• A second penalty notice issued to the same parent in respect of the same pupil is charged at a flat rate of £160 if paid within 28 days.
• A third penalty notice cannot be issued to the same parent in respect of the same child within 3 years of the date of issue of the first. In a case where the national threshold is met for a third time (or subsequent times) within those 3 years, alternative action should be taken instead. This will often include considering prosecution but may include other tools such as one of the other attendance legal interventions.

If your child is going to be absent from school for any other reason than illness a Leave of Absence Form must be completed to ensure your pupils attendance is coded correctly.