Newsletter October 2012.pub - Kibworth High School

Emergency Closures
If the decision is taken to close the school before the start of the day due to weather
conditions or another emergency, the information will be sent to Radio Leicester 104.9FM, in
accordance with Local Authority (LA) guidelines. You should tune into this radio station for
this information and regular updates. A school closures list can also be viewed via
www.bbc.co.uk/leicester (NB you need to refresh page regularly). From 7.15am onwards
messages will also be posted on our website and sent through our text messaging service. Please
note, the school will be closed to all pupils and staff and so we cannot accept any responsibility
for your child. You will need to have your childcare plans in place for such exceptional
circumstances. If we have to close the school during the course of the day for the same
reasons, it is important that you agree in advance with your child what they should do if they
are sent home early (e.g. stay at home, go to a relative/neighbour, etc.) Please see page 17 of
your child’s student planner. If there are any problems and we need to contact parents, please
ensure that we have your up to date phone numbers and contact details. Can I stress, these
situations may not arise, but it is as well to plan for them. A copy of this information may be
viewed via our website http://www.kibworthhigh.leics.sch.uk/parent/closure/emerg.htm
Attendance
Regular, punctual attendance is essential to progress at school. Our levels of attendance are
regularly monitored, and we are pleased to say that Kibworth High School has an excellent
record. In an effort to maintain this standard detailed below is the procedure for reporting an
absence from school or a late arrival.
Please telephone the school on the morning of each absence to inform the attendance clerk by
10am. The school attendance clerk will investigate any absences where a telephone call has not
been received to establish the whereabouts and safety of pupils. Our text messaging service
will inform parents/carers of their child’s absence.
In cases where pupils have more than a week off school, a note detailing the reason for absence
will be required. If we have not had a reason for an absence, a letter is sent automatically
asking for an explanation. If a reason is still not forthcoming, the absence will be recorded as
‘unauthorised’.
It would be extremely useful to have prior notice of dental/medical appointments which require
pupils to leave the school premises, and if pupils arrive late due to such appointments they
should be accompanied or have written notification. Where possible it would be helpful to have
a copy of dental/medical appointment cards or letters.
Family holidays should be avoided during term time because of the well documented negative
impact on a pupil’s learning. It is now the responsibility of the school to decide whether an
absence is to be classed as “authorised” or “unauthorised” and we are advised by the
Department For Education (DFE) that we should not authorise more than 10 days absence for
holidays or similar family activities in an academic year as it is very disruptive to a child’s
education.
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