Attendance / Reporting Absences

Coronavirus Attendance Guidelines: Last updated 25.09.22

Source: .Gov.UK website September 2022

When children and young people with symptoms should stay at home and when they can return to education

Children and young people with mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, or slight cough, who are otherwise well, can continue to attend their education setting.

Children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people, where they can. They can go back to school, college or childcare, and resume normal activities when they no longer have a high temperature and they are well enough to attend.

All children and young people with respiratory symptoms should be encouraged to cover their mouth and nose with a disposable tissue when coughing and/or sneezing and to wash their hands after using or disposing of tissues.

It is not recommended that children and young people are tested for COVID-19 unless directed to by a health professional.

If a child or young person has a positive COVID-19 test result they should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day they took the test, if they can. After 3 days, if they feel well and do not have a high temperature, the risk of passing the infection on to others is much lower. This is because children and young people tend to be infectious to other people for less time than adults.

Children and young people who usually go to school, college or childcare and who live with someone who has a positive COVID-19 test result should continue to attend as normal.

 Cleeve School Attendance Guidelines

At Cleeve School we recognise the need for students to attend school regularly. We will try to make sure that students want to come to school by: 

• Providing a curriculum that is relevant, stimulating and challenging.
• Creating a caring and welcoming environment.
• Making sure that behaviour follows our code of conduct. 

The school seeks the support of the parents/guardians in maintaining high standards of attendance and punctuality. 

Parents/guardians should ensure that their children arrive at school regularly and on time, by 8.40am.  Where it is not possible or practicable for a student to attend school his/her parent/guardian should: 

Notify the school preferably by telephoning the absence line (01242 662004), or contacting the school by letter or email attendance@cleeveschool.net on the first day of any absence, detailing the reason for the absence and stating an estimated return time. 

If this has not been possible due to extraordinary circumstances then a note should be sent in with the student when they return to school. 

At the end of a period of absence the parents will be expected to write a letter addressed to their child's College Leader explaining the reasons for their child’s absence. 

If a child is persistently absent from school, appropriate medical advice should be sought, and medical evidence may be requested.  Where possible pre-arranged appointments should be arranged out of school time. 

All students attending medical appointments must provide a signed note from parents confirming the date and time of the appointment which should be done in advance of the appointment and needs to be given to the College Leader.

If a note has been provided, students who are attending medical appointments first thing in the morning and arrive in school before 10.05am will receive a ‘Present Attendance’ mark. If they arrive following a medical appointment between 10.05am and 11.05am a ‘Late’ mark will be recorded. Thereafter, a Medical mark will be recorded (which is an authorised absence and will adversely affect their attendance). If no evidence of a medical appointment is provided, an absence mark will be recorded.

We encourage parents to make appointments outside of the school day wherever possible or at the very beginning or end of the school day. If a student will be having frequent appointments we request that parents inform their child’s College Leader.

Cleeve School we will look at exceptional circumstances on an individual basis.

Absence Request Form

Absence Request Form

 More information on Attendance can be found in our Attendance Policy.