--- title: "Frequently Asked Questions" url: "https://st-mary-s-catholic.schudio.com/parents/faqs" school: "St. Mary's Catholic Primary School & Nursery" --- # Frequently Asked Questions **REPORT A PUPIL ABSENCE** - You must telephone the school office before **9.20am** on 01257 262811 and select option 1. - Leave your name, your child's name and year group and **a detailed reason for their absence or illness, including symptoms (just stating that your child is unwell is not sufficient).** - Please do not pass messages on via siblings or the class teacher. - Please note that if your child has vomited or experienced diarrhoea, they must remain absent from school for a **full 48 hours from the last bout.** **APPOINTMENTS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY** - If your child has an appointment at any time during the school day, please inform the school office in advance by telephoning 01257 262811 or emailing office@chorleystmarys.lancs.sch.uk if school is closed. Please do not pass messages on via siblings or the class teacher. - Hospital appointments are usually confirmed by letter and we ask you to let us have a copy for our records. - Wherever possible, your child should attend school to obtain their registration mark at 8.50am or 1.05pm before leaving for their appointments. **ARRIVING/COLLECTING** - School gates are open before 8.40am and registration is at 8.50am. You should ensure your child is in class **before 8.50am.** - If you arrive after registration at 8.50am due to lateness or an appointment, you must always bring your child to the main office and sign them into our electronic system. - If you need to collect and return your child during the day or leave before the end of the school day due to an appointment, you must collect them from the main office and sign them out of the building. - When collecting early, you should be prepared to confirm your security password. - You must tell us if any other member of your family (eg Grandparent/Aunty) will be collecting and they will also be asked to confirm your security password. - If you have arranged for another person to collect your child from the classroom at the end of the school day, who is not on the approved list you gave us when they started school, **please ring the school office to let us know**. If we are not informed, or the person collecting does not know the password when asked, staff will not allow your child to leave until a parent has been contacted to confirm arrangements **DRIVERS** - do not park on the school yellow zig zag lines - do not park near to the school crossing patrol - do not park in the turnaround on Warton Place - do not park next to bus stops - do not park on pavements - it is forcing pedestrians into the road, including those with prams - do not block residents' driveways - it is preventing them from setting off for work, school or appointments - the staff carpark must not be used as this is for **staff only**. The only exception is for disabled drivers or drivers of disabled children using the disabled bay and they must display their blue badge **PEDESTRIANS** - **the path within the staff carpark must not be used to access classrooms at drop off or pick up as staff vehicles can be manoeuvring to park** - please use the path to the left of the carpark via Hornchurch Drive - access through the carpark is **only** for pedestrians using breakfast and after school club and visitors coming to the main entrance during school hours **ABSENCE FROM A SCHOOL ACTIVITY** - If your child is not well enough to attend an activity (eg. scheduled PE lessons, swimming, other sporting activity) but is well enough to attend school, they should still arrive at school for registration at 8.50am. - They will be given other work to do whilst the activity is taking place and placed in another classroom if necessary. - If you bring your child to school after the registers have closed at 9.20am, they will receive an unauthorised absence mark. **TEMPORARY PRESCRIBED MEDICATION** - Please see our medicines policy [**here**](https://www.chorleystmarys.lancs.sch.uk/our-school/school-policies). - If your child has been prescribed a course of medication (eg. antibiotics) for a number of days and requires **four** doses per day, school may administer **one** of these doses during the school day. - Please bring the medication to the school office at the start of the day ensuring that the medication has your child's name, dosage instructions and expiry date of the medicine. - We will ask you to complete a form before we agree to administer any medication. - **Please do not send any medication into school in your child's bag, or ask your child's teacher to receive the medication into school.** - For children with long-term medical needs (including allergen/dietary information), please contact the school office first to discuss. **REQUEST A LEAVE OF ABSENCE DURING TERM TIME** - Before you apply for any leave of absence, please see the term dates for the current and next academic year [**here**](https://www.chorleystmarys.lancs.sch.uk/parents/termdates). - The school is under no obligation to authorise absences for holidays in term time. We encourage all parents to consider the disruption holidays in term time cause. - Parents are expected to support school attendance by avoiding family holidays during term time, especially at key times, eg national tests. - The Headteacher will only authorise leave of absence in term time in exceptional circumstances. - Authorisation of all requests during term time will only be considered on completion of an Absence Request Form at least 30 days before the holiday is taken. - Forms are available from the main office or you can download [**here**](https://www.chorleystmarys.lancs.sch.uk/parents/termdates)**.** - Please be aware that unauthorised absences carry with them the risk of a penalty notice. **SCHOOL UNIFORM** - We expect every child to adhere to the school uniform rules – a list of uniform items can be found **[here](https://www.chorleystmarys.lancs.sch.uk/our-school/school-uniform)**. If your child attends school in items not in accordance with the uniform list, we will contact you. - Please note that certain items of clothing are **not permitted** unless previously agreed with the school office: - Polo shirts instead of white cotton shirts - Trainers/boots instead of shoes - Leisure wear instead of PE Kit. PE kit comprises white shirt and black/joggers or shorts only – no other colour is permitted - Jewellery of any kind (except watches) - Extravagant hair accessories – a plain bobble is sufficient **ALL OTHER ENQUIRIES** - Please use the online form [**here** ](https://www.chorleystmarys.lancs.sch.uk/contact)to contact the school office. If your query is urgent, please telephone the school office on 01257 262811 and speak to Mrs Wilson or Mrs Hargreaves. ### Parents - [Safeguarding](https://st-mary-s-catholic.schudio.com/safeguarding) - [Cost of Living Advice](https://st-mary-s-catholic.schudio.com/parents/cost-of-living-advice) - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://st-mary-s-catholic.schudio.com/parents/faqs) - [Internet Safety](https://st-mary-s-catholic.schudio.com/parents/internet-safety) - [Online school diary](https://st-mary-s-catholic.schudio.com/parents/online-school-diary) - [Parental Questionnaire](https://st-mary-s-catholic.schudio.com/parents/parental-questionnaire-results-november-2019) - [Parenting Websites](https://st-mary-s-catholic.schudio.com/parents/parenting) - [PTFA](https://st-mary-s-catholic.schudio.com/parents/ptfa) - [School Dinners](https://st-mary-s-catholic.schudio.com/parents/school-dinners) - [School Newsletters](https://st-mary-s-catholic.schudio.com/parents/newsletters/school-newsletters) - [Sports ](https://st-mary-s-catholic.schudio.com/parents/sports-news) - [Sun Safe](https://st-mary-s-catholic.schudio.com/parents/sun-safe) - [Term Dates](https://st-mary-s-catholic.schudio.com/parents/termdates) - [Fundraising](https://st-mary-s-catholic.schudio.com/fundraising) - [Remote Learning](https://st-mary-s-catholic.schudio.com/remote-learning) ##### Location Hornchurch Drive Chorley Lancashire PR7 2RJ ##### Contact Us Mrs Wilson - 01257 262811 ##### Stay Connected - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/people/Chorley-St-Marys-Catholic-Primary-School-and-Nursery/61582073293231/) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/stmaryschorley/) © Copyright 2017–2026 St. Mary's Catholic Primary School & Nursery School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://st-mary-s-catholic.schudio.com/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)