Unauthorised Leave in Term-Time 

Parents/carers are required to submit a leave in term time form to the Office in the Infant or Junior department, prior to taking pupils out of school during term-time (ideally two weeks). The school must be provided with a copy of booking information including flight details where appropriate. 

If a pupil fails to return following a period of absence, investigations will be made by staff to their whereabouts.   

If school investigations fail to make contact the parents/pupil, the case will be referred to the Children Missing Education Team as your child will be who may, after further investigation, inform school that the pupil may be removed from roll. Police welfare checks may also be requested. 

Medical evidence will be required to authorise absence through illness directly following a period of leave in term-time absence. 

Parents to be informed that school will consider whether after 28 days a child will lose their school place. Considerations will be made for pupils with EHCP and very vulnerable pupils. 

Absence can only be authorised by the Head Teacher, within the boundaries set by the Education (Pupil Registrations) (England) Regulations 2006.  Head Teachers may not authorise leave during term time except where the circumstances are exceptional.  Under the Regulations, retrospective authorisation for leave in exceptional circumstances is not permitted. 

The fundamental principles for defining ‘exceptional circumstances’ are that they are: 

‘rare; significant; unavoidable and short’ 

Contacting Pupils with ‘G’ codes  

• After 10 days parents and pupils should get an email followed by a video call. Pupils considered highly vulnerable will receive a call after five days. 

Guiding Principles: 

1. Term times are for education.  This is the priority.  Children and families have 175 days off a year including weekends and school holidays.  Headteachers will rightly prioritise attendance 

1. The decision to authorize a pupil’s absence is wholly at the headteacher’s discretion based on their assessment and merits of each individual request 

1. If an event can be reasonably scheduled outside of term-time then it would be normal to authorize absence for such an event – holidays are therefore not considered ‘exceptional circumstances’. 

1. Schools will take the needs of the families of service personnel into account if this prevents them from being able to take family holidays during scheduled holiday time 

1. Schools have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for pupils with special needs and/or disabilities 

1. Families may need time together to recover from a trauma or crisis 

1. It is acceptable for a school to take a pupil’s record of attendance into account when making absence-related decisions. 

Family emergencies need careful consideration.  It is not always appropriate or in the best interests of the child to miss school for emergencies which are being dealt with by adult family members.  Being at school with support from staff and peers can provide children with stability.  The routine of school offers a safe and familiar background during times of uncertainty. 

It is a parent’s legal responsibility to ensure their children receive appropriate education.  Failing to send your child to school regularly without good reason is a criminal offence. 

Potential Legal Action 

• Issuing penalty notices: Each parent receives a penalty notice for each child who has unauthorised absence.  The penalty is £90 or £180 depending on how quickly payment is made.  Failure to pay may result in prosecution. 

• Taking parents to court for unauthorised absence: Education Act 1996 Section 444 (1) – courts can fine each parent up to £1000 per child, order payment of prosecution costs and/or impose a Parenting Order 

• Taking parents to court for persistent unauthorised absence: Education Act 1996 – Section 444 (1A) – courts can fines each parent up to £2500 per child, order payment of the prosecution costs, impose a Parenting Order and/or sentence you to a period of imprisonment of up to three months.