The law entitles every child of compulsory school age to an efficient, full-time education suitable to their age, aptitude, and any special educational need they may have. It is the legal responsibility of every parent to make sure their child receives that education either by attendance at a school or by education otherwise than at a school. 

Where parents decide to have their child registered at school, they have an additional legal duty to ensure their child attends that school regularly. This means their child must attend every day that the school is open, except in a small number of allowable circumstances such as being too ill to attend or being given permission for an absence in advance from the school.

This is essential for pupils to get the most out of their school experience, including their attainment, wellbeing, and wider life chances. The pupils with the highest attainment at the end of key stage 2 have higher rates of attendance over the key stage compared to those with the lowest attainment. At KS2, pupils not meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths had an overall absence rate of 4.7%, compared to 3.5% among those meeting the expected standard. Moreover, the overall absence rate of pupils not meeting the expected standard was higher than among those meeting the higher standard (4.7% compared to 2.7%).

For the most vulnerable pupils, regular attendance is also an important protective factor and the best opportunity for needs to be identified and support provided. Research has shown associations between regular absence from school and a number of extrafamilial harms, including crime (the proportion of children that had been cautioned or sentenced for any offence that had ever been persistently absent was 81% and for serious violence offence was 85%).

Check school holiday dates as you cannot take holidays / visit abroad during term time.  

Absence during term time is not acceptable for any reason.  

There are 175 days a year children are not in school  This is when family visits, holidays, routine medical appointments, dentist check-up and shopping trips should take place.

In summary, the Sept 2013 Department for Education legislation states that:

• the current law does not give parents any entitlement to take their children out of school for a holiday during term time;
• any application for leave must only be in ‘exceptional’ circumstances and the Headteacher must be satisfied that the circumstances are ‘exceptional’ (visiting families is not exceptional);
• in ‘exceptional circumstances’ a request for absence must be made in advance to the Headteacher, who will inform you of his/her decision prior to booking the leave;
• if a request for leave is not authorised by the Headteacher and the pupil does not attend school, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised, which then stays on a child’s permanent record.

We are required by law to report unauthorised absences to the Local Authority, who may issue a Fixed Penalty Notice, which means a parent may be fined by the Education Inclusion Service (EIS).  I must also make parents aware that due to equalities legislation, fixed penalty notices will now be issued to all parents who have parental responsibility and whom can be traced.  Please be aware that the proceeds from fixed penalty fines DO NOT go to the school. 

Should parents make the choice to take their child out of school on an unauthorised holiday they should not then declare this as a sickness absence.  We do ring to check, particularly when children inform us of the holiday or when they return from a sickness absence with a suspiciously deep sun tan!  As already stated, it is the Headteacher’s decision whether or not to authorise any absence and the mark given.

Leave of absence during term time is not an entitlement and will not be granted for the sole purpose of a family holiday.  Leave of absence during term time interrupts continuity of teaching and learning and can disrupt the educational progress of individual children, creating 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.  As a parent or carer you are required by law to ensure that your child attends school regularly.