Absence

Absence Procedure

If your child is to be absent for any reason, please contact the school, before 9am where possible, using the following (in order of preference):

It is necessary for you to contact school each morning your child is absent unless we have a doctor’s note for longer term illnesses. If we do not receive a text / MCAS app message / call, then the absence will be recorded as unauthorised.

In respect of communication, we use the MCAS app option on a regular basis to inform parents/carers of events in school. It is therefore important that you have downloaded and activated the app, and that you check regularly for any messages.

Illness and absence from school

Low attendance procedures

We regularly inform parents/carers of any attendance concerns during the school year. If CHHS has reason to believe your child is absent without a genuine reason, further action could be taken in line with our Attendance Policy, this may include:

  • conducting formal interviews for students whose attendance is below expected levels
  • authorising EPNs (Education Penalty Notices)
  • liaising with EWS (Education Welfare Service)

 

Keeping your child in school

If your child is is away from school for any reason it will have an impact on their learning – there is a link between poor attendance and low levels of achievement. This can have an impact on the sort of job your child could get and the amount of money they can earn in a lifetime.

As a parent/carer, it is natural to want the best for your child and to take care of them when they are feeling unwell. However, we know that sometimes parents/carers may keep their children away from school when they do not need to.

Three days of absence in a month due to illness would mean your child may be counted as a persistent absentee. If your child is ill and you are unsure whether they could be in school, please call us and talk this through with a member of staff.

Medical appointment absence

Medical appointments should be made outside of school hours or during school holidays where possible.

First Aid

Mrs McManus is our dedicated First Aider in school.

The First Aid room is manned each day at the following times:

  • 9am to 3pm – Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays
  • 9am to 2.25pm – Wednesdays
  • 9am to 2.35pm – Fridays

Many other staff in school are also first aid trained including some of our Heads of Year.

At CHHS we compile a list of students which details all emergency medical conditions that we have been made aware of. This is regularly updated, distributed to all members of staff and shared with the school nursing team where appropriate.

We encourage you to send your child into school with minor ailments such as headaches, tummy aches, coughs, colds, etc. Should your child deteriorate throughout the school day, our First Aider will contact you to arrange for your child to be collected from school.

Please note that we would never send a student home ill without firstly speaking to a parent/carer or one of the contact names on our system. We would always check how the student will be travelling home before signing them out of school.

Students must never contact home regarding illness; they must always see our First Aider or their Head of Year. The student must always sign out at Student Enquiries before leaving school with the parent/carer.