Holidays during term time

The DfE are very clear that term-time holidays are not an acceptable reason for a child to be out of school. Their guidance states:

You have to get permission from the head teacher if you want to take your child out of school during term time. You can only do this if:

• you make an application to the head teacher in advance (as a parent the child normally lives with)
• there are exceptional circumstances

It’s up to the head teacher how many days your child can be away from school if leave is granted.

Requesting absence in term-time

In line with this guidance, any requests for absence must be submitted prior to the planned absence using a form which can be collected from the academy office. It is extremely rare that any request will be authorised by the Principal. While we appreciate that holiday costs rise significantly during school breaks (as this is something that also affects our staff), this will not lead to an authorised request.

Where exceptional circumstances are being considered, evidence is likely to be requested.

Fines for absence in term-time

The Government and the Local Authorities Pupil Welfare Service are working together with schools to improve attendance. Abbey View hopes to work together with parents and carers to promote high attendance.

The Department for Education has recently announced national changes to penalty notices issued for unauthorised absence in term time. These changes came into effect on 19th August 2024.

The changes to be aware of are:

• Penalty notices issued for offences that take place after 19 August 2024 will be charged at a new rate of £160 per parent per child. This can be paid at £80 if paid within 21 days
• Any second penalty notice issued to the same parent for the same child within a rolling 3-year period will be issued at the rate of £160 to be paid within 28 days with no option for a discounted rate.
• The threshold at which a penalty notice must be considered is set at 10 sessions (equivalent to 5 days) of unauthorised absence within a rolling 10-school week period. This may include absences as a result of arriving late after the register closes. The 10 school weeks may span different terms or school years.
• A maximum of 2 penalty notices may be issued to a parent for the same child within a rolling 3-year period, so at the 3rd (or subsequent) offence(s) another course of action will need to be considered (such as prosecution).

Where there are extenuating circumstances, such as a death or a medical emergency, the council may stop the fine if they receive relevant evidence. Such evidence must go to the council rather than the academy, though we can forward it on to them on your behalf, should you wish.

The fines are applied and received by the Council and the money does not come to the academy.

What the rules mean to our families