Absence

If your child is not coming to school, for whatever reason we must have notification (this is a legal requirement).

You must phone the school to advise us of your child’s absence and follow this up with a written note when your child returns to school.

If we do not receive any information as to the absence of your child on the day of your child’s absence we follow the First Day Calling Policy which requires us to contact you once the register closes, which at Riverwalk School is 9.30am.

Sickness

Students should not be in school if they are ill. Please consider the vulnerability of some of our students to illnesses.  If your child has sickness and diarrhoea he/she should stay at home for at least 72 hours after the last bout of illness. This information is taken from the medical profession.

If the absence lasts more than a day, you will need to inform the taxi firm. If your child becomes ill at school, we will contact you so that he or she can be taken home. We will, obviously, care for your child for that day if we cannot contact you. In the case of accidents or sudden emergencies we shall take your child to the West Suffolk Hospital and inform you as soon as possible.

We cannot administer medicine to your child unless it has been prescribed by a doctor and we have received written authorisation from you. The exception to this is paracetamol which we will, with your consent, give to your child if it is necessary. Antibiotics which have been prescribed three times a day (i.e. 8 hourly) can be given at home. Antibiotics needed four times a day (i.e. 6 hourly) will need to be given at school.

Medicines & Health

Any prescribed medication that is required to be administered in school should be delivered to the class teacher for storage in the medical room during the school day.  Un-prescribed medicines cannot be given.

Parents are required to complete an Administration of Medicine form.  Alterations in medication must be notified in writing by parents. Medication should be labeled with a pharmacy label clearly stating the dosage. Medication will not be given whilst on school transport.

Medical appointments

If your child needs to attend a medical appointment during school hours, please can you notify us through the home school book.

Exceptional Circumstances

If you wish to request time off school for your child in exceptional circumstances please fill in a Request for Pupil Leave of Absence form, or ask for a copy through the home school book.

Attendance at school for 5-16 year olds is statutory and the school can only authorise leave of absence for exceptional circumstances. For a child at Riverwalk this will be very dependent upon their specific needs, we therefore ask you to complete a request and a member of the Leadership Team will contact you to discuss the circumstances so that we can ascertain as to whether the request is an exceptional circumstance.