Absence Procedures
- All absence due to illness should be reported to the school by telephone on the first day. Parents/ carers must contact the school as soon as possible to inform us of the reason for your child’s absence if they are unable to attend school. Should a child be absent from school and no communication has been received, school will make contact by telephone or, if deemed necessary, in person to ascertain the reason for the child’s absence. Local Authority advice is to contact the police if the child’s whereabouts cannot be established.
- Absence due to a religious observation should be notified to the school prior to the date
- If your child is late, they should report to the school office
- Children leaving the premises before completion of the school day should be signed out at the school office
- We ask that medical and dental appointments are made out of school hours where ever possible, however in an emergency. Proof of the appointment will need to be seen when you sign the child out of school or on their return
- Request to take children out of school, other than for medical or dental reasons, will be refused. Guidance from Kirklees Council means that the absence will not be authorised
- Parents are advised that they should ensure that suitable arrangements are made for the children to be in school by 8.30am and collected by 3.25pm
- Parents of any child who is not collected by 3.45pm will be charged a £5 late collection fee.
Recommended absences from school following infection
The Health Protection Agency recommend the following periods of absence from school following specific illnesses and infections;
| Rashes and skin infections | Recommended period to be kept away from school, nursery or childminder | Comments |
| Athlete's foot | None | Athletes foot is not a serious condition. treatment is recommended |
| Chickenpox | Five days from the onset of rash | |
| Cold sores ( Herpes simplex) | None | Avoid kissing and contact with the sores. Cold sores are generally mild and self limiting |
| German measles ( Rubella) | Six days from onset of rash | Preventable by immunisation ( MMR x 2 doses) |
| Hand, foot and mouth | None | |
| Impetigo | Until lesions are crusted and healed, or 48 hours after commencing antibiotic treatment | Antibiotic treatment speeds healing and reduces the infectious period |
| Measles | Four days from onset of rash | Preventable by vaccination (MMR x 2) |
| Molluscum contagiosum | None | A self-limiting condition |
| Ringworm | Exclusion not usually required | Treatment is required |
| Roseola (infantum) | None | None |
| Scabies | Child can return after first treatment | Household and close contacts require treatment |
| Scarlet Fever | Child can return 24 hours after commencing appropriate antibiotic treatment | Antibiotic treatment recommended for the affected child |
| Slapped cheek / fifth disease. Parvovirus B19 | None | |
| Shingles | Exclude only if rash is weeping and cannot be covered | Can cause chickenpox in those who are not immune i.e. have not had chickenpox. It is spread by very close contact and touch. |
| Warts and Verrucae | None | Verrucae should be covered in swimming pools, gymnasiums and changing rooms |
| Diarrhoea and vomiting illness | Recommended period to be kept away from school,nursery or childminder | Comments |
| Diarrhoea and / or vomiting | 48 hours from last episode of diarrhoea or vomiting | |
| E coli 0157 VTEC | Should be excluded for 48 hours from the last episode of diarrhoea | Further exclusion may be required for young children under five and those who have difficulty in adhering to hygiene practices |
| Typhoid (and paratyphoid) (enteric fever) | Further exclusion may be required for some children until they are no longer excreting | This guidance may also apply to some contacts who may require microbiological clearance |
| Cryptosporidiosis | Exclude for 48 hours from the last episode of Diarrhoea | Exclusion from swimming is advisable for two weeks after the diarrhoea has settled |
| Respiratory infections | Recommended period to be kept away from school, nursery or childminder | Comments |
| Flu (influenza) | Until recovered | |
| Tuberculosis | Consult local Health Protection Unit | Requires prolonged close contact for spread |
| Whooping cough (pertussis) | Five days from commencing antbiotic treatment, or 21 days from onset of illness if no antibiotic treatment | Preventable by vaccination. After treatment, non-infectious coughing may continue for many weeks. Local Health Protection Unit will organise any contact tracing necessary |
| Other infections | Recommended period to be kept away from school, nursery or childminder | Comments |
| Conjunctivitis | None | |
| Diphtheria | Exclusion is essential | Preventable by vaccination. Family contacts must be excluded until cleared to return by local Health Protection Unit |
| Glandular fever | None | |
| Head lice | None | |
| Hepatitis A | Exclude until seven days after onset of jaundice (or seven days after symptom onset if no jaundice) | |
| Hepatitis B, C, HIV/AIDS | None | Hepatitis B and C and HIV are bloodborne viruses that are not infectious through casual contact |
| Meningococcal Meningitis / septicaemia | Until recovered | Meningitis C is preventable by vaccination. There is no reason to exclude siblings or other close contacts of a case |
| Meningitis due to other bacteria | Until recovered | Hib and pneumococcal meningitis are preventable by vaccination. There is no reason to exclude siblings or other close contacts of a case |
| Meningitis viral | None | Milder illness. There is no reason to exclude siblings and other close contacts of a case |
| MRSA | None | Good hygiene, in particular handwashing and environmental cleaning, are important to minimise any danger of spread |
| Mumps | Exclude child for 5 days after onset of swelling | Preventable by vaccine (MMR x 2 doses) |
| Threadworms | None | Treatment is recommended for the child and household contacts |
| Tonsilitis | None | There are many causes, but most cases are due to viruses and do not need an antibiotic |