Requests for Leave of Absence
The 2013 amendments to the 2006 regulations make it clear that Head Teachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances and that Head Teachers should determine the number of school days a child can be away from school if the leave is granted.
The law does not grant parents an automatic right to take their child out of school for holidays during term time.
Requests should be made at least four weeks before the intended absence. Parents and carers should not risk making any arrangements before a school decision is made on their leave of absence request application.
When deciding whether to allow term time leave the school will consider the reason for the absence and whether it is deemed to be an exceptional circumstance.
Generally, the DfE does not consider a need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation to be an exceptional circumstance.
A copy of the Local Authority Leave of Absence Policy and Penalty Notice Code of Conduct can be found on the Local Authority website.
If the request for leave of absence is refused and the absence is recorded as unauthorised, the Head Teacher may refer the matter to the Local Authority requesting a Penalty Notice be issued against you.
A Penalty Notice is £80 if paid within 21 days of receipt, rising to £160 if the notice is paid after 21 days but within 28 days. If the penalty is not paid in full by the end of the 28 days period, the Local Authority may prosecute for the offence to which the notice applies.
Any second penalty notice issued to the same parent for the same child in a rolling 3-year period, the charge will be at a higher rate of £160 with no option for this second offence to be discharged at the lower amount of £80.
A national limit of 2 penalty notices can be issued to a parent for the same child within a rolling 3-year period so at the 3rd (or subsequent) offence(s) the Local Authority will investigate legal interventions such as prosecution.
Holiday Forms are available from the school’s office or use the below link to print:
