It is the responsibility of the parent / carer to contact the school on the first morning of the child’s absence. This can be done by leaving a message on the answer phone or phoning when the school office opens at 8.00am. In any case a parent/ carer should contact prior to 9.30am. If this contact is not made Riverside School will contact the parent/carer by text or telephone.

Pupils arrive at school between 9.05am and 9.15am. The morning register opens at 9.15am. The morning register closes at 9.30am. All pupil arrivals after this point are treated as absent from that session, unless they arrive on school transport. Parents or carers dropping pupils off late (after 9.30am), must report to Reception and explain the reasons for lateness. This will be recorded in the signing in/out book.

Please look at the Attendance Policy in the Policies folder

School Office: 02392250138 (option 3) 

Absence will not be authorised unless parents/carers have provided a satisfactory explanation and it is accepted as such by the school. The decision to authorise absences is at the discretion of the Headteacher. Examples of unsatisfactory explanations include but are not limited to:

• A pupil’s/family member’s birthday.
• Shopping for uniforms.
• Arrangements or appointments for cutting the pupil’s hair.
• Closure of a sibling’s school for INSET (or other) purposes.
• An unwillingness to attend school, or inability to attend owing to insufficient personal/family organisation.
• A refusal to attend school on health grounds but where the pupil is considered well enough to attend.
• Absences taken without the authorisation of the school.