Families who would like to take their child on holiday during term time should be aware that the law does not grant parents an automatic right to take their child out of school during term time. Any absence from school will disrupt your child’s learning. You may consider that a holiday will be educational but your child will still miss out on the teaching that their classmates will receive during your holiday. Children returning from a term-time holiday are also unprepared for the lessons which build on the teaching they have missed. Teachers then have to give more time to help individual children catch up on missed work. This poses a potential risk of the underachievement of other students in the class. This is something we all have a responsibility to avoid.
The Department for Education allows a Headteacher/Principal the discretion to consider authorising a holiday in term time only in ‘exceptional circumstances’. If the holiday is not considered to be an exceptional circumstance, and you nevertheless take your child out of school for the holiday, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised.
As of 19 August 2024, a First Offence Penalty Notice is a fine of £160 per parent, per child, reducing to £80 if paid within 21 days. Thereafter if the Penalty remains unpaid this may result in legal action.
In considering the decision whether to authorise, the following factors will be taken into account:
- Reasons given for the holiday
- The time of the year/term
- Whether your child will miss any preparation for tests/examinations
- Whether your child will miss any tests/examinations
- Your child’s previous attendance/punctuality record.
We hope you will support our efforts to raise attendance and attainment at our school. More information on Penalty Notices can be found below.