Types of Absence
Absence due to Illness and Medical Appointments
NHS guidance that states children can attend school with common cold symptoms like a sore throat, runny nose or cough unless they have a high temperature. If you’re not sure if your child is well enough to go come to school, check the NHS guidance for common illnesses at Is my child too ill for school? - NHS and let us know as soon as possible if they need to stay home.
Wherever possible please arrange medical appointments outside school hours. In emergencies or where this is not possible, please provide the school with a copy of the appointment card/letter/text so that the absent session can be accurately coded. This can be sent to attendance@sa.sapmat.org.uk marked for the attention of the attendance team.
We understand that absence may occur due to specific pupil circumstances/individualised needs for example a pupils mental or physical ill health or their special educational needs and/or disabilities. We endeavour to work with parents/carers and other professionals where needed to ensure that such circumstances do not act as a barrier to regular attendance and the pupil has their right to an education with the attendance ambition being the same as it is for any other pupil.
The School Registers
Solihull Alternative Provision Multi Academy Trust record details of all pupils’ attendance and absence on Arbor, our schools MIS system. Attendance is taken at the beginning of each morning and afternoon session. The school will record the absence on the school register as either authorised or unauthorised absence depending on the reason provided. Authorised absences may include genuine illness, medical appointments, or other exceptional circumstances agreed by the school. Unauthorised absences include absences without a valid reason, term-time holidays that have not been approved, or situations where the school has not received an explanation for the absence.
Attendance data is shared with the Local Authority and the Department of Education.
Leave of Absence during Term Time
Holidays during term time will not be authorised unless there are exceptional circumstances and you should not expect Solihull Alternative Provision to agree to your child going on holiday during term time.
If there is an exceptional circumstance where your child needs to be absent during term time, then Parents/carers must submit a completed Absence Request Form marked for the attention of the Principal to school at least four weeks before the proposed leave date. A leave form can be obtained from school. School may request you to also provide them with supporting evidence in relation to the leave request. The school will provide a written response to the application. Only the Principal can authorise a leave of absence in exceptional circumstances. Please note that informing the school of an absence does not mean it has been approved.
Where leave is taken without prior authorisation, or an application has not been submitted, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised and may result in a Penalty Notice being issued. In some cases, where a pupil's whereabouts is unknown, the school may also be required to notify the Local Authority.
Please see the document within Parent/Carer Resources Are you thinking of taking your child out of school in term time