LEAVE OF ABSENCE DURING TERM-TIME

The legislation from the Department for Education (DfE) is to ensure that children’s education is not disrupted by too many preventable absences, and schools whose attendance percentage is below the National Average of 95.6% will be held to account.

Time off during the school term is called “Leave of absence during term-time”. Parents do not have a legal right to take children out of school during term-time and any parents wishing to do so must request a leave of absence at least 2 weeks before taking their child out of school.

Headteachers have discretion to authorise ‘Leave of Absence during Term Time’ in exceptional circumstances up to 5 days (i.e. 10 sessions of 5 mornings and 5 afternoons) within a six-month period during the current academic year.  Your request for leave of absence during term-time must demonstrate (with written evidence if necessary) that this request forms an exceptional or rare instance.

Headteachers are obliged to complete a notification form and send this to the Education Welfare Office/Penalty Notice Officer after a period of unauthorised leave of absence.  A Penalty Notice will be issued to each parent for each child who has had unauthorised leave. Therefore, if you have 2 children, the penalty fine will be £60 per parent per child = £240).

If you wish to discuss any issues arising as a result of this information, please contact the school office.