If your child is going to be absent from school or pre-school, please ensure you call the school office on 01327 702783 to notify them, on the day of absence. We also have a voicemail service so if you call out of hours, please do leave a message and we will call you back. We do check for messages on arrival each morning. We ask that you please call in daily to notify us, if they are going to be absent longer than a day, to keep us up to date with how they are. 

Failure to report absence results in an unauthorised absence mark which does affect your child's attendance. Good attendance of 96% or higher is expected at St James Infant. 

The school does not authorise term time holidays.  Any application for leave must only be in exceptional circumstances and our Headteacher and Attendance Officer would not be expected to class any term time holiday as exceptional.

Penalty notices will be considered for 5 consecutive days of term time leave or 10 days of unauthorised absence in a 10 week period (in the same or different academic years).

Penalty Notice Fines will be issued to each parent, for each child that was absent.

1^st Offence: The first time a Penalty Notice is issued for Term Time Leave or Irregular Attendance the amount will be: £160 per parent, per child paid within 28 days.

2^nd offence (within 3 years): The second time a Penalty Notice  is issued for Term Time Leave or Irregular Attendance the amount will be: £160 per parent, per child paid within 28 days.

3^rd offence (within 3 years): The third time an offence is committed for Term Time Leave or Irregular Attendance a Penalty Notice will not be issued, and the case will be presented straight to the magistrates’ court. Magistrates’ fines can be up to £2500 per parent per child.

The children are expected to be in school from 8.45am - 3.15pm - Monday to Friday.