Regulation 7 of the Education (School and Placing Information) (Scotland) Amendment, Etc. Regulations 1993 requires each child’s absence from school to be recorded in the school register in four different ways:

• as authorised: i.e. approved by the authority and this includes sickness, religious observance and bereavement
• as extended leave with parental consent i.e. when the family moves abroad for a short time
• as unauthorised: i.e. unexplained by the parent (truancy) or most family holidays during term time
• as temporarily excluded from school

Every effort should be made to avoid family holidays during term time as this both disrupts your child’s education and reduces learning time. If you have a question about the categorisation of attendance or absence please contact the school.

It would be most helpful if parents would inform the school before 8.55am if their child is likely to be absent from school. If no phone call has been received, a member of the office staff will attempt to contact you if your child is absent.  These procedures were introduced to ensure parents can be confident about safe arrival of pupils at school.

Parents may request that their children be granted absence from school to make an extended visit to relatives abroad. Only written requests detailing destination and the duration of the visit will be granted and the pupil noted as an authorised absentee in the register.  However, with no explanation from the parents / guardians, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised.

At Tollbrae Primary we put a great deal of emphasis on attendance at school. The school monitors closely the attendance of all pupils and informs parents when concerns emerge.