Leave of Absence guidance
In September 2013 the Department for Education brought in amendments to the 2006 Education Regulations.
These changes centred around pupils being
absent from school during term time. The new amendments remove any references to family holidays and extended leave as well as the statutory threshold of 10 school days. The amendments also make clear that any Headteacher may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. As a result of this, the previous holiday request form and policy were no longer fit for purpose and have been updated to bring in line with the new reglations.
Parents who are considering taking their children out of school for holiday or other reasons from September 2013 are requested to consider the Government's guidance which can be found by typing ‘holidays’ in the search bar at
Available in the Parents’ Information - School Policies section of the school website is a new Leave of Absence Request Form for parents to use from September 2013 onwards. We would ask that parents/carers complete the form and send it into school at least 2 weeks prior to the date of absence. Parents will receive written confirmation of whether the absence is to be recorded as authorised or unauthorised. While we respect that this is a different situation, we will endeavour as a school to work cooperatively with parents and continue to assess the procedure and protocols in place. Each request will be taken on a case by case basis as guided by the Department for Education. It must be stated however, that it is crucial that the school has a written account of why any child is absent. Please ensure that the form is completed and sent to school.
