Let us know by 9:00am
If your child is ill, email attendance@kingsleydevon.com or call Reception on +44 (0)1237 426200 and select Option 2. Tell us the reason and when you expect your child back, and get in touch again if the absence runs on longer.
What we can authorise
Absence is normally authorised only for illness, medical appointments and approved sporting or educational visits or trips. In certain circumstances an absence may be approved on compassionate grounds.
Please make routine dental and medical appointments outside school hours or in the holidays where possible, and make sure your child arrives at school on time and properly equipped.
Holidays in term time cannot be authorised
The Headteacher is not able to approve holidays taken in term time, and these absences are recorded as unauthorised. Term and holiday dates for the next three academic years are on the Term Dates page, so families can plan trips around them.
Attendance and the law
Section 444 of the Education Act 1996 states that children between the ages of 5 and 16 should attend school regularly, and parents are legally responsible for making sure their children of compulsory school age receive an efficient full-time education through regular attendance. Registers are taken twice a day, at the start of the morning and once during the afternoon, and every absence is recorded as authorised or unauthorised. An absence is authorised when the school has given approval in advance or a satisfactory explanation is given afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
How do I report my child absent?
Contact the school by 9:00am on the day of the absence, either by emailing attendance@kingsleydevon.com or by calling Reception on +44 (0)1237 426200 and selecting Option 2. Please give the reason for the absence and when you expect your child to be back at school.
Can I take a term-time holiday?
Kingsley cannot authorise holidays in term time. The Headteacher is not able to approve them, and any holiday taken during term is recorded as unauthorised absence. Term and holiday dates are published on the Term Dates page to help families plan ahead.
What time does registration close?
Morning registration at Kingsley closes at 8.40am, and a pupil who arrives after that is marked late. If a child has not arrived and the school has had no notice of the absence, parents will normally be contacted at 10.00am.
Northdown Road, Bideford