Illness and Absence Reporting

Illness

We believe that regular school attendance is essential if children are to achieve their full potential and benefit from the opportunities that regular school attendance brings. We also understand that at times children will not be well enough to attend school or circumstances lead to a school-time absence. We would ask parents to refer to the school absence policy. Please have a look at the information here. 

When a child is ill, we ask that the parents or carers notify us as soon as possible on the first day of illness by 9.00am or as soon as practically possible by calling the school office. Parents and carers can do this by a message left on the absence reporting line, or email to the school office:

Tel: 01929 552 949
Email: office@sandfordprimary.dorset.sch.uk 

Children should return to school as soon as they are well enough to do so. However, there are certain illnesses where the requirements from Public Health England set fixed periods for any absence. The main example of this is with cases of either vomiting or diarrhoea when we maintain a strict 48-hour exclusion from the last episode.

For more information the poster from the Public Health Agency is very useful. View poster

We ask that parents continue to keep us advised of any illness on each day of absence. We may ask the pupil’s parent/carer to provide medical evidence, such as a doctor’s note, prescription, appointment card or other appropriate form of evidence. We will not ask for medical evidence unnecessarily.

Medical or dental appointments

We encourage parents to make medical and dental appointments out of school hours where possible. Where this is not possible, the pupil should be out of school for the minimum amount of time necessary. Advance notification of appointments should be made to the office only, either by telephone or email.

Missing registration for a medical or dental appointment is counted as an authorised absence and advance notice is required for authorising these absences.