Holidays
Absence during term time as a result of holidays interrupts continuity of teaching and learning, disrupts the educational progress of individual children and creates disruption in schools.
Promoting regular school attendance is a key component in the Government's strategy to raise educational standards.
In order for children to reach their full potential and access the learning opportunities available to them, children must attend school regularly and as a parent/carer you are required by law to ensure that your child attends school regularly.
Holidays during term time are not an entitlement and parents/carers cannot demand leave of absence for their child. Parents/carers school not book holidays in term time until they have sought the head teacher's permission, as this will only be given in special/exceptional circumstances.
To take your child out of school for a holiday in term time requires permission from the head teacher of your child's school. All requests must be made on the school's official application form which is available from the Attendance Officer in the school's Student Support. This application must be completed by the parent/carer with whom the child normally resides and must be returned to the school at least 2 weeks prior to the period of absence for which the permission is being requested.
In accordance with The Education (Pupil Registration)(England) Regulations 2006, head teachers can only authorise up to 10 days (20 sessions) in any one academic year for the purpose of leave of absence for holidays in term time, if they head considers that there are special circumstances relating to that application
A head teacher cannot authorise more than 10 days (20 sessions) except in exceptional circumstances.
Requests for a holiday in term time should only be made if there are special/exceptional circumstances as to why the special/exceptional circumstances as to why the holiday cannot be taken during school holidays and these circumstances must be detailed on the school application form prior to the holiday, as retrospective consent will not be given. Evidence in support of these circumstances must also be provided to the school when the application form is submitted (for example written confirmation from your employer that the holiday cannot be taken during any of the various school holidays and 'why' or a Doctor's/Health Professional's certificate in support of a family crisis/serious illness)
Government Guidance as to what may be considered as special circumstances are:
- For service personnel and other employees who are prevented from taking any holidays outside of term time, if the holiday will have minimal disruption to the pupil's education: and
- When a family needs to spend time together to support each other during or after a crisis/serious illness
Government Guidance advises that holidays taken for the following reasons should not be authorised:
- Availability of cheap holidays
- Availability of the desired accommodation
- Poor weather experienced in school holiday periods
- Overlap with beginning or end of term
Each request will be considered on the special/exceptional circumstances the parent/carer has detailed on the application form.
The head teacher may also consider the following when making his/her decision on whether the application made is to be authorised:
- Your child's overall attendance pattern
- If the holiday is on or near any exam dates
- Can the pupil catch up with the work missed
- The age and stage of education of your child
- Your wishes
- Any holidays already taken in the school year
- Time of year for the proposed holiday
Any absence taken without the permission of the head teacher will be recorded as unauthorised absence in the school register, which is a legal document.
Penalty notices have been introduced under section 23 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 as an alternative to prosecution, for failing to ensure your child's regular school attendance. Where a child has at least 10 school sessions (half days) recorded as unauthorised absence due to taking holidays in school term time, a penalty notice may be issued to all parents/carers by the Local Authority. If a penalty notice is issued, each parent/carer will have 28 days from the date of issue to pay £50, after 28 days it will increased to £100, per parent/carer, per child. Failure to pay a penalty notice within 42 days will result in the parent/carer being prosecuted in the Magistrates Court under S444(1/1A) of the Education Act 1996, for failling to secure regular school attendance of a child. Persistent absence of a child due to unauthorised holidays during term time may result in immediate prosecution in the Magistrates Court under S444(1/1A) of the Education Act 1996 for failing to ensure a child's regular school attendance, a person found guilty of this offence will be liable to a fine of up to £2500, a term of imprisonment not exceeding 3 months, or both.
We do hope you will support the Barton cluster of schools to ensure the regular school attendance of your child/children and only apply for holidays in term time in accordance with government regulations and guidance relating to holidays in term time.
It is more important than ever for chlidren to have a good education, to have choices and opportunities in adult life and your child's chance of a successful future may be affected if they do not attend school regularly.
With effect from January 2009 the head teachers of all the schools within the Barton Cluster will only authorise holidays in term time in accordance with the Government regulations and guidance.
