The law does not grant parents an automatic right to take their child out of school during term time. The Department for Education allows a Headteacher/Governors the discretion to consider authorising a leave of absence in term time only in “exceptional circumstances”.

You may consider that a holiday is educational but your child will still miss out on the teaching that their peers will receive whilst he/she 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. This poses a potential risk of under achievement for your child.

If you wish to request a leave of absence and it is not considered to be an exceptional circumstance, and you nevertheless take your child out of school, this will be recorded as unauthorised leave.

Parents should also understand that if the absence request is unauthorised, the Local Authority may be notified of the absence taken and a Penalty Notice may be issued. The penalty is issued to each parent, for each child taken out of school and is a fine of £60 if paid within 21 days, increasing to £120 if paid between 21 and 28 days. Failure to pay a Penalty Notice will result in prosecution, except in limited circumstances.

If you would like to request absence from school during term time, please use the button below to access the form and return it to school at least two weeks in advance.