Sickness & Absence Guide

Sickness Guide 

NHS guide for is my child too ill for school  - Is my child too ill for school? - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Illness

Occasionally students are too unwell to attend school. We will monitor and engage with parents as soon as a pattern of absence becomes apparent. When deciding whether or not your child is too ill to attend school. Ask yourself:

• Is your child well enough to carry out the activities of the school day? If not, keep your child at home and consult your GP as appropriate
• Does your child have a contagious condition that could be passed on to other children or staff? If so, keep your child at home
• Would you take a day off work if you had this condition? If so, keep your child at home

Common conditions

Most illnesses can be classified as one of a few minor health conditions. Whether or not you send your child to school will depend on how severe you judge the illness to be. This guidance can help you to make that judgement. If you’re concerned about your child’s health, consult a health professional.

Cough and cold

A child with a minor cough or cold may attend school. If the cold is accompanied by raised temperature, shivers or drowsiness, the child should stay off school, visit the GP and return to school 24 hours after they’re feeling better. If your child has a more severe and long-lasting cough, consult your GP, who can provide guidance on whether the child should stay off school.

Raised temperature

If your child has a raised temperature, they shouldn’t attend school. They can return 24 hours after they’re feeling better.

Rash

Rashes can be the first sign of many infectious illnesses such as chickenpox and measles. Children with these conditions shouldn’t attend school. If your child has a rash, check with your GP or practice nurse before sending them to school.

Headache

A child with a minor headache doesn’t usually need to be kept off school. If the headache is more severe or is accompanied by other symptoms such as raised temperature or drowsiness, then keep the child off school and consult your GP.

Vomiting and diarrhoea

Children with these conditions should be kept off school. They can return 48 hours after their symptoms disappear. Most cases of vomiting or diarrhoea get better without treatment, but if symptoms persist, consult your GP.

Sore throat

A sore throat alone doesn’t have to keep a child from school. If it’s accompanied by a raised temperature seek medical advice.

Absence

Attendance at Garston Manor School is important to school learning and is disruptive to the student if they are kept off school for any reason. Regular attendance is important to achieve the best for our students.

A new national framework for Penalty Notices for school absences , including unauthorised holiday absence, has been introduced following changes to the law. These new government regulations came into force on the 19 August 2024. 

What are the changes? 

• A new national threshold of 10 unauthorised sessions for any reason (equivalent to 5 school days)
• You will no longer be able to take the student out of school for one week's holiday without a fixed penalty notice being issued 
• There is an increase to the penalty fine, the fines are as follows : £80 if paid with 21 days. If the fine is not paid by 21 days, this will rise to £160 with no option to pay the lower rate of £80
• If a second penalty fine is issued to the same parent/carer for the sam student within a 3-year rolling period, the fine will automatically rise to £160 with no option to pay the lower rate of £80
• If a parent/carer commits a third offence in a 3-year rolling period, the local authority will need to consider other enforcement options available to them  

Reporting Any Absence

If the student is unable to attend school for any reason, for safeguarding purposes, it is imperative that you contact the school every day for the length of the absence before 0830. 

You can either phone the school on 01923 673757, use option 1 to leave a message or email using admin@garstonmanor.herts.sch.uk 

How to I request leave during term time? 

You must submit an Absence Request form at least 20 days before the proposed absence. It will be the Head Teacher to decides as to whether there are exceptional circumstances that will allow this time off to be authorised. Do not assume that the absence will be authorised unless you receive confirmation from the school.
Attendance Leave of Absence Request Form

   Attendance Leave of Absence Request form - Word