👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For Parents & Carers

✅ Your Responsibilities

• Report your child’s absence by 9:00am on the first day of an unplanned absence.
• Call the school office on 0121 464 6921.
• Provide a clear reason for the absence (e.g. illness, appointment).
• For planned absences, submit a request in advance using the school’s leave form

🔄 Ongoing Absence

• If your child remains absent, please continue to contact the school daily.
• Let us know:
  • How your child is doing.
  • When they are expected to return.
• This helps us support your child and ensures their absence is correctly recorded.

📄 Medical Evidence

• If your child is absent for 4 or more days due to illness, the school may request:
  • A doctor’s appointment card.
  • A prescription slip.
  • A surgery stamp.
• You are not required to provide evidence, but if the school has reasonable doubt about the reason given, the absence may be recorded as unauthorised.
• The school will inform you before making this decision.

🏫 What school will do

📅 Day 1

• If no contact is received:
  • The parent/carer will be called
  • If still no response, second and third emergency contacts will be called.
  • If the your child is subject to a Child Protection Plan or is a Child in Need, school will inform the social worker
  • For any unexplained absence, where we cannot confirm a child's whereabouts or well-being, school will carry out a home visit

📅 Days 2–3

• School will continue to contact parents for updates, if they do not make contact with us
• If no explanation is received:
  • If the child’s whereabouts and wellbeing remain unknown, school will Escalate to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
  • School will consider whether the situation meets the threshold for a referral to children’s social care.
  • If there is a genuine concern for the child’s safety, we will contact the police for a safe and well check

📅 Days 4–5 (Illness Only)

• School may request medical evidence if illness is the reason and absence continues.
• Acceptable forms:
  • Appointment card.
  • Prescription slip.
  • Surgery stamp.
• If no evidence is provided and absence is suspicious:
  • School will record as Code N, O (unauthorised), or G (holiday not agreed).
  • School will inform parents of the decision.