Request for Holiday Leave During Term Time

In September 2013 the Department for Education amended the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 removing the Headteacher's ability to authorise leave of absence for a family holiday. Holidays in term-time will not be authorised as the Regulations only allow Headteacher's to authorise absence (leave) in "exceptional circumstances."  An "exceptional circumstance" would have to be defined as an unavoidable cause e.g. a one-off emergency situation which prevents the child from attending school. Family holidays, for whatever reason, cannot be approved, even if the parent is unable to take time off work at any other time. 

Requests for holidays in term time will not be authorised.

If the absence is not authorised and the holiday is taken anyway, the case may be referred to the Attendance Service who may issue a Penalty Notice to each parent for each child taken out of school.

• From August 2024, the fine for school absences across the country will be £80 if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days. This rate is in line with inflation and is the first increase since 2012. 
• In the case of repeated fines, if a parent receives a second fine for the same child within any three-year period, this will be charged at the higher rate of £160. 
• Fines per parent will be capped to two fines within any three-year period. Once this limit has been reached, other action like a parenting order or prosecution will be considered. 
• If you’re prosecuted and attend court because your child hasn’t been attending school, you could get a fine of up to £2,500.