Leave of Absence in Term Time

The Government recognises the importance of your child attending school for every session available to them and not taking time off during the school year for holidays. We are therefore asking you as parents/carers to avoid taking your child out of school during the term time.

The Government has introduced PENALTY NOTICES for Local Authorities to issue to parents who take their children out of school during term time. In line with Government recommendations, holidays will now only be authorised in exceptional circumstances and benefiting from reduced holiday costs outside of the school holidays is not considered an exceptional circumstance.

Details of PENALTY NOTICES are outlined below:

• The first penalty notice issued in respect of the pupil will be charged at £160, reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days.
• The second penalty notice issued to the same parent in respect of the same pupil will be charged at a flat rate of £160 if paid within 28 days.
• A third penalty notice will not be issued to the same parent for the same child in this rolling 3-year period and an alternative legal sanction will be given, this may include prosecution in the magistrate court.

To ensure your child benefits from their full educational entitlement and to avoid getting a PENALTY NOTICE, you should only take holidays during the school’s holiday periods which are published well in advance.

Request for leave of absence in term time form