What the law says

By law, all children of compulsory school age (between 5 – 16) must receive a suitable, full-time education, at school or otherwise.

Parents are responsible for ensuring this happens.  This is achieved by registering a child at a school or by Electing to Home Educate (EHE)

For more information on Elective Home Education, please use this link (ADD LINK)

For more information on registering for a school place please follow this link:

 Applying for a school place – Monmouthshire

Once a child is registered at a school, parents are responsible for ensuring that the child(ren) attends school regularly and on time. If a child fails to attend regularly, the school can refer to the Education Welfare Service and on behalf of the Local Authority may take legal action.  The local authority is responsible for making sure that parents fulfil their responsibilities.

*Where it states parent, this refers to parents, carers or guardians.

School absence

School absence is recorded as either authorised or unauthorised absence.

Every school will have a First Day Response to attendance absence. It is important parents inform the school on the first day of absence and follow up any absence texts or calls that they receive from school.

There may be occasions when a child has to miss school if they are ill.  When a child is too ill to attend school, contact should be made as soon as possible with the school on the first morning of absence and should keep the school informed if the absence continues.  Schools may ask the parent for medical evidence in cases of entrenched absence due to illness.

Children may have to attend medical or dental appointments in school time, however parents should make every attempt to make routine appointments, such as dental check-ups after school or during the school holidays.

If parents are requesting that their child(ren) have time off for other reasons, then they should complete a Term Time Absence Request from school and return it to the Head Teacher for consideration.

Birthdays and Shopping trips are not acceptable reasons for absence and will not be authorised by schools.  If a child is going to be absent for any reason parents must contact the school.

For more information about attendance concerns please follow this link:
https://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/education-2/early-years-schools-education/education-welfare-attendance/