Parent FAQs

If your child is unwell, please contact the school office before 9.00am on the first day of absence to let us know the reason.

In line with government guidance, we cannot authorise holidays during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.

You will need to complete a leave of absence request form, which is available from the school office.

If a child is taken out of school without authorised leave, the local authority may issue a Fixed Penalty Notice to parents or carers. This money is held by the local authority and is used to cover administrative costs and to fund attendance support. 

• The threshold for referral is 10 sessions (5 days) of unauthorised absence in a 10-week period 
• The first referral to local authority generally results in a fine (£80 rising to £160 if not paid within 21 days) per parent, per child. 
• A second referral within 3 years of the first generally results in a £160 fine per parent, per child. 
• A third referral within 3 years of the first may result in court proceedings. 

Further information is available from the school office or local authority guidance.

We monitor attendance closely and may contact parents to offer support or arrange a meeting if attendance becomes a concern.

We communicate with families through Arbor, our weekly newsletter and important messages sent directly to parents and carers.

Our newsletters are sent via Arbor each week and are also available on the school website.

The school office can direct you to the appropriate member of staff, including your child’s class teacher.

Progress and Learning

There are two parents evenings per year where you are advised to book an appointment with your child’s teacher to discuss progress. A formal report is published annually which provides detailed information.

Yes – get in touch with the school office and they will arrange a meeting as needed. If the matter is minor, you may feel comfortable discussing it with your child’s teacher on the playground at the end of the school day.

You can do this via Arbor. Any updated information is flagged to our office team. They will review the change and inform the class teacher. If they have any questions, they will give you a call or an email.

Wrap Around places can be booked via Arbor. Please be aware that there is a cut-off. If you urgently need a last-minute place, contact the office on 01642 312741 and they will try to accommodate you if places are available. Please be aware that children who are not booked in cannot be admitted on the door.

Contact the school via 01642 312741 or enquiries@chandlersridge.org.uk. If you feel that you need to speak to somebody, please ask to meet a member of the safeguarding team. If it is an emergency, always call 999.

Unfortunately, the school cannot authorise holiday requests for children based on parental work patterns, unless parents are serving members of the armed forces.

We are blown away by the generosity of our school community! If you would like to donate uniform, books or toys, please feel free to bring them to school. If you would like to buy something for school, speak to your child’s class teacher about what this could look like.