Overview
Parents should be aware that the law does not grant parents or carers an automatic right to take their child out of school during term time. The Department for Education allows the Headteacher the discretion to consider authorising a leave of absence in term time only in "exceptional circumstances".
Exceptional Circumstances typically may include the death of a close relative, attendance at a funeral or the respite care of a looked after child.
You may consider that a holiday may be educational, but your child will miss out on the teaching and learning that their peers will receive whilst your child is away. Children returning from a leave of absence during term time are also unprepared for the lessons which build on the teaching they have missed and arrangements need to be made for individual children to catch up on missed work. Disruption to the continuity of teaching and learning is something that we all have a responsibility to avoid.
If requesting a leave of absence, you will need to complete this form, or download and complete the form, setting out the reasons for your request. If a holiday is not considered to be an exceptional circumstance, it will not be authorised. If you nevertheless take your child out of school for the leave of absence, this will be recorded as unauthorised leave.
In the case of an unauthorised leave of absence, the headteacher may request that the Local Authority issue a fixed penalty notice without further warning to the parent. Please note that such a penalty is issued to each parent for each child taken out of school. A Penalty Notice is a fine of £60 if paid within the first 21 days or £120 if paid between 21 and 28 days. Thereafter, if the penalty remains unpaid this may lead to prosecution through the Magistrates' Court.
All Leave of Absence Requests should be made either using the downloadable form or through this e-submission form, and by the parent with whom the child normally resides. This should be submitted or returned to the school at least seven days before the start of the absence. Leave cannot be authorised retrospectively.
I appreciate your support in our efforts to maintain good levels of attendance.
S P Shaw
Headteacher
Absence request form (e-submission)
If a pupil fails to return to school within ten school days following the anticipated date of return, and no reason is provided, there may be grounds (under some circumstances) to delete you child's name from the Admissions Register and register thanes a Child Missing Education.
I understand that if the absence request is not authorised and is taken anyway, the Headteacher may request that the Local Authority issue a Fixed Penalty Notice. I understand that a Fixed Penalty Notice is issued to each parent for each child taken out of school, and that this is a fine of £60 if paid within the first 21 days which increases to £120 if paid between 21 and 28 days. I understand that if I do not pay this, it may result in legal action.
Name of Parent/Carer(s) making the application
