General Information

Reporting a student absence procedure

Attendance email address: attendance@trinitysevenoaks.com

Telephone: 01732 469111 Ext. 202

Students are required to be in full time attendance at school and are expected to arrive on time. In accordance with national guidelines, students arriving after their year group’s official start time, without a parental explanation, are considered to be absent.

All absence from school requires:

1. An email or telephone call, no later than 8.15am, on the morning of each day’s absence. Email is preferred where possible.
2. Confirmation of the reason for absence is required. (Unwell is not sufficient.)

Examples of authorised absences:

• Illness (supported by medical evidence from parent/carer)
• Medical/orthodontist appointment during school time (evidence is required in advance, please email to the address above)
• Close family funeral (approval in advance via completed Request For Absence form)
• Interview e.g. prospective employer or new school (approval in advance via completed Request For Absence form)

Please be advised that unexplained absences will be recorded as unauthorised.

Unauthorised absences are not in students’ best interests, are viewed negatively on their academic records.

Following national guidance the school will not authorise absence during term time for family holidays, etc.

First Day Absence Check

It is the responsibility of the parent/carer to notify the school of any student absence. If you receive a text message, you should either reply by text or telephone the school attendance team as soon as possible.

By operating this system the school is aiming to ensure that students who have left home arrive safely in school. Therefore, to facilitate this process efficiently, we would ask you to contact the school attendance each morning your child is absent. Messages may be left on the answer phone before 8:15am.

Request for Absence Form

All parents and carers are equally valued as part of our school community. Children’s learning is improved when we work in partnership with their parents or carers and their whole family. We therefore believe in close cooperation with all families and in regular consultation between home and the school. We communicate with parents by:

• School Website
• Texts
• Email
• Telephone
• Letter

We aim to acknowledge all communications within 48 hours.

Identifying Concerns

• In the first instance, please contact your child’s Form Tutor or for specific subject enquiries, the classroom teacher.
• If your concerns are not addressed, please contact the leadership team by emailing parentvoice@trinitysevenoaks.com in the first instance.

Public Transport

The County Council have advised us that children will need to purchase a Kent Young Person’s Travel Card (Yrs 7-11) or a 16+ Travel Card.  This will enable them to use the existing public bus services.

Kent County Council will only provide free transport to children who meet their school transport criteria. If you would like to be considered for transport under these terms you will need to apply to Kent County Council School Transport department directly. 

For further information on all school transport please visit the KCC website: 

 Kent County Council School Transport

Traveline is a dedicated local transport website. You will be able to input your location and your destination. All route options are displayed.

The drop off point for most of the services is either Riverhead Tesco or Knole Academy West. Go Coach provide a ‘link’ service between Knole Academy and Riverhead Tesco.  For further information on their services, please visit their website:

Traveline

If you have any questions about the local bus service in your area you can also contact the bus companies directly. Their contact numbers are as follows:

Arriva: 0844 8004411 www.arrivabus.co.uk

Go! Coach: 01732 668090 www.go-coach.co.uk

Nu Venture: 01622 882288 www.nu-venture.co.uk

Redroute: 01474 353896 www.redroutebuses.co.uk

Private Transport

We understand that it will be necessary for some children to come to school by car. We would encourage parents to consider car sharing and if you are interested in this please contact the school office.

Parking

Parents are welcome to use our car park to drop off and collect their child. We ask that children use the pavement and do not cross the bus bay for safety reasons.

All information can be found on the following page

Severe Weather Arrangements

The school day begins at 8:45am and finishes at 3:20pm every day.

Each school day lasts for 6 hours and 40 minutes

A typical working week at Trinity amounts to 33 hours and 20 minutes.

Mobile Phones and Electronic items are not allowed in school:

Mobile phones can cause disruption to lessons. If a student is seen with an electronic item a member of staff will confiscate it, and it will be taken to their Key Stage office. A letter will be given to students, asking a parent/carer to collect the item from the school reception. The exception to this is a tablet computer (e.g. iPad) if this is a requiremetn for lessons.

Phones that are turned off and remain in a school bag will not be confiscated.

School Uniform - What to wear

Please order online by clicking the link below or visit their shop in Sevenoaks

Horncastles

Please see the latest Uniform Policy below for further details.

Uniform Policy