Attendance

If a child is absent from school for any reason, parents/carers are asked to contact the school by telephone on 01224 788180 or email Heathryburn.enquiries@ab-ed.org as soon as possible in the morning.  The School Office is open from 8.15 am.

Children are permitted to be absent from school to keep appointments with the doctor, dentist, or the hospital, but prior notification to school would be appreciated.  Children having to leave the school during the school day for such appointments should always be collected by an adult.

If your child is late to school, they should report to the school office before joining their class.

If your child is ill, please inform the school office each day of absence.  Children should only return to school when they are fit to do so.  Pupils will only be allowed to stay indoors at break and lunch if parents/carers have made this request in writing.

In accordance with NHS Guidelines, children who have suffered from sickness/diarrhoea should remain at home for 48 hours after their last attack.

If for any reason, your child is not able to attend school, it is vital this information is shared with the school. Aberdeen City Council has clear guidelines of action to be taken if a child is ‘Missing in Education’. Below are the stages we will follow at Heathryburn School if your child is absent, and we are unaware of the reason for this:

1.    First day of unexplained absence – Group call sent to parents or carer.

2.    Second day of unexplained absence – School Office Staff will make a telephone call to parents/ carer.

3.    Third day of unexplained absence – Home School Liaison Officer will make a home visit.

If the Home School Liaison Officer is unable to make contact, the school then notifies Aberdeen City Council who will then initiate the ‘Children Missing in Education’ policy, this could involve the NHS, Children’s Social Work Team and Police Scotland.

As a result of government regulations schools have to issue figures detailing authorised and unauthorised absences.  For this reason, parents must inform the school by letter if they wish to take their child on holiday during the school term.  Family holidays will be counted as “unauthorised” and it is the policy of the school and the local authority to actively discourage this practice.  Aberdeen City’s attendance policy can be found here: Guidance on Managing and Promoting Pupil Attendance