Meldreth Primary School

Parents have a responsibility to ensure that their children receive full time education. Regular attendance is essential if children are to progress with their learning. Our school day is divided into two registration sessions so, for example, one full day of absence will be recorded as two sessions.

Please click HERE for the Cambridgeshire County Council's leaflet on school attendance 'Is Your Child in School Today?'

Notification of Absence

If your child is going to be absent from school please ring before 9.00am on the first day. You will be able to leave a message using option 1, stating name, class and reason for absence. If a specific reason has not been left we may call you back. When a child is absent and no call has been received, we will call you to find out why your child is not in school.

Please ring to report your child's absence on 01763 260432, option 1

NHS is my child too ill for school?

Guidance on infection control in schools

Punctuality

School starts at 8.50am for all classes. We believe that punctuality is an important social courtesy and regularly arriving late to school not only disrupts your child's opportunities for learning but those of the children in his/her class. Children arriving late must access the school via the school office where they are registered and the reason for his/her late arrival is recorded. Where the child arrives after registration has closed (8.55am - when the school gates are closed) the absence will be recorded as unauthorised. Late arrivals are monitored by the school and interviews will take place with parents where there is concern.

Medical Appointments

We ask that non urgent appointments such as dental checks and routine vaccinations are made outside of school hours wherever possible.

If your child has a hospital or specialist appointment please bring the letter to the school office where a copy can be placed on their file as proof of authorised absence.

To collect your child during the school day please visit the school office to sign your child out of school.

Other Absence Requests

Children who are registered at Meldreth must, by law, attend school regularly. The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 amended the previous Education Regulations (England) 2006 removing the Headteacher’s discretion to agree term time leave. As a result, all leave taken in term time will be unauthorised unless the absence is for exceptional circumstances.

Parents/Carers are expected to provide explanations for their child/ren’s absence. Please complete an unavoidable absence in term time - request form (below) to explain why your child will not be in school. If permission for this leave is not granted but the child is absent, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised. As a result, a referral may be made to the Local Authority Attendance Team who may issue each parent/carer with a Penalty Notice fine ranging from £60 to £120 per parent per child. Where parents are separated a copy of this decision will be sent to both.

Holidays during term time are unauthorised by the school. We strictly adhere to Cambridgeshire County Councils Code of Conduct in taking children out of school during term time.

Unavoidable absence in term time - Request Form

Please click the links below for Cambridgeshire County Council's information on: