Attendance
We are proud of the excellent attendance of our pupils at Hague Bar Primary School. Regular attendance is important in helping children make good progress, enjoy their learning and get the very best from their time at school.
Parents and carers are responsible for ensuring that their child attends school regularly. If your child is unable to attend due to illness or another unavoidable reason, please contact the school before 9.00am on each day of absence, either by telephone or email.
Where a child's attendance becomes a concern, we will work with parents and carers to understand the reasons for absence and provide appropriate support. Persistent or unexplained absence may be referred to the relevant attendance or education welfare services.
Leave of Absence
The Headteacher may authorise absence for certain educational activities or for pupils to attend other schools or educational settings.
Leave of absence during term time can only be granted where the request meets the circumstances permitted by the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024
These circumstances can include:
taking part in a regulated performance or regulated employment abroad
attending an interview
study leave
a temporary, time-limited part-time timetable
exceptional circumstances
Any leave of absence is granted at the Headteacher's discretion, including the length of time for which the absence is authorised.
At Hague Bar Primary School, circumstances that may be considered exceptional include:
bereavement, crisis or serious illness involving a family member
the funeral of an immediate family member
children of service personnel where a parent or carer is about to be deployed
one day's absence to attend the wedding of an immediate family member, where an invitation is provided as evidence
medical appointments that cannot reasonably be arranged outside school hours, such as hospital appointments
Leave of absence will not be granted for a pupil to take part in protest activity during school hours.
Medical and Dental Appointments
Where possible, we ask that routine medical and dental appointments are arranged outside school hours.
If your child needs to attend an appointment during the school day, please complete our Medical Leave of Absence Form. If an appointment is made at short notice, please phone the school office.
Holidays During Term Time
As leave during term time can only be granted in exceptional circumstances, family holidays will not normally be authorised.
We understand that every family's circumstances are different, and each application for term-time absence will be considered individually, taking into account the specific circumstances and relevant background to the request.
Requesting Leave of Absence
Please submit requests as soon as you know that an absence may be required and, where possible, at least two weeks in advance. The Headteacher may ask for appropriate evidence to support an application.
Please complete the relevant form below and return it to the school as soon as possible:
Medical Leave of Absence Form – for medical or dental appointments
Leave of Absence Request Form – for all other requests for absence during term time
Thank you for working with us to support excellent attendance and ensure every child has the best possible opportunity to learn, progress and achieve their full potential.