If your child is unwell and cannot attend school

If your child is unwell, you should call the school (leave a message if needed) or email to report your child as not in school due to illness. Please do not send your child to school until 48 hours after their last bout of sickness or diarrhoea, or if they are unwell.

Information on seeking requesting absence from school for your child during term time  

Key information

Sonning Church of England Primary School, The Keys Academy Trust, Wokingham Borough Council and the government all believe that absence during term time should be avoided as it can have a damaging effect on pupils’ education and overall achievement. However, it is recognised that there may be exceptional reasons which may justify authorisation of an absence by the school.

Please be advised that Wokingham’s Children’s Services and the Department for Education have advised schools to only authorise leave of absence/holidays in exceptional circumstances. Therefore, the school will not approve any absence in term time, except in such circumstances. Please complete the section below and return to school at least four weeks before the requested absence where at all possible. The school will endeavour to respond to your request within 5 working days. If approved, you should speak to your child’s teacher regarding any work they may miss.

Please be aware that, if holidays are taken without approval, this information will be passed to our Education Welfare Officer. Taking an unauthorised holiday is a criminal offence and may result, depending on the circumstances of each case, in either a Penalty Notice being issued or Prosecution in the Magistrates Court. A Penalty Notice may be issued without further warning. Payment of a Penalty Notice within 21 Days is £80, between 22 and 28 days is £160. Penalty Notices are issued to each parent, per child. However, if a penalty notice is not paid then the parents (as defined below) may be prosecuted in the Magistrates Court. In some cases, a Penalty notice will not be offered at all and the matter referred immediately for Prosecution. In Court, the penalty is a fine of up to £1000 and a Criminal Record.

More information can be found on the Wokingham Borough Council website or from the Education Welfare Service.

The term “parent” is as defined under Section 576 Education 1996, meaning the following:

• All natural parents, whether they are married or not.
• Any person who, although not a natural parent, has parental responsibility (as defined by the Children Act 1989) for a child or young person.
• Any person who, although not a natural parent, has care of a child or young person.