Attendance
Our children like coming to school and attendance is high – around 95%
We take attendance seriously and ask that parents make sure their children come to school every day, on time and in the correct uniform. We closely monitor the attendance of all pupils. If a child’s attendance falls below 85%, the school will support the family to get the child back into lessons as quickly as possible.
Reporting an absence
If your child is ill, you must report their absence via the Studybugs App by 9am. Please report every subsequent day that your child is absent.
If you are in doubt to whether or not your child should attend school/nursery, please click here for advice.
For the latest COVID advice click here.
Should your child become ill during the school day, we will contact you to take them home. It is therefore vital that you provide the school with at least two emergency contacts. Please advise the School Office immediately of any change in telephone numbers and emergency contacts for your child. There are forms at Reception for you to complete with details of amendments, or you can email your changes to info@epsomdowns.surrey.sch.uk
Medical/Dental Appointments
When your child has a medical/dental appointment we need proof in the form of an appointment card or letter. This can be the physical letter/card or a photo, screenshot, email etc. Please send these to absences@epsomdowns.surrey.sch.uk. Without this the absence will be recorded as unauthorised.
If your child has been sick or had diarrhoea, it is important that they stay at home for 48 hours after the last bout (including the Day Nursery and Family Centre).
Punctuality
The school grounds are open from 8.30am when there will be a member of staff on duty in the KS2 playground. Unless they are attending Breakfast Club, children are not allowed on site before 8.30am. More information on Breakfast Club is available here.
The school day starts at 8.45am (8.55 in the Rainbow Unit) with registration and lessons. It is important that your child arrives on time to their classroom so that there is no disruption to their learning or that of other children. If you are going to be late for any reason, please ring the Office and then sign in at Reception when you arrive.
Any child who arrives late at school after the close of registration without good reason will be recorded on the official register as an unauthorised absence.
More information about absence, including unauthorised absences and Penalty Notices is available here.
First Aid and Medication
We are committed to the health and safety of our children and so a large number of staff around the school hold a Paediatric First Aid certificate. This allows them to deal with everyday first aid such as cuts and grazes, and emergency first aid should it be needed. If your child bangs their head, it will be recorded in an incident book and they will be given a note to take home to you informing you what has happened.
Head Injury Information Leaflet
In case of emergency, we will call an ambulance and inform you immediately.
We cannot administer medicines to children unless you have filled in the appropriate forms.
If your child is completing a course of medicine but is well enough to return to school, please give doses before and after school and at bedtime.
Should your child require long-term medication, an inhaler for example, we have a form that must be completed and all medication is kept in the individual's classroom.
If your child develops a medical condition, please share any information with the class teacher and the School Office so that we can update their medical records.
Head Lice
NHS information on treating head lice
