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Leave of Absence

There is no entitlement in law for pupils to take time off during the term to go on holiday or for other leisure or recreational purposes.
The School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024 specify that headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. There is no entitlement to up to ten days of term-time holiday.
It is a rule of this school that a leave of absence shall not be granted in term time unless there are reasons considered to be exceptional by the headteacher, irrespective of the child’s overall attendance.
Only the headteacher or his/her designate may authorise such a request and all applications for a leave of absence must be made in writing, in advance, on the prescribed form provided by the school.
The school will usually consider that the parent who has made the application is therefore allowing the leave, and also that all parents who are on the holiday are allowing the leave.
Where a parent removes a child after their application for leave was refused or where no application was made to the school, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised.
Where the relevant national threshold is met, it is likely that a penalty notice will be requested from the Local Authority, in line with the National Framework and Essex Code of Conduct, in respect of each parent believed to have allowed the absence.

Penalty Notice Amounts

Sanctions may include issuing each parent for each child with a Penalty Notice for £160, reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days for a first penalty notice.
A second Penalty Notice issued to the same parent in respect of the same child within a three-year period will result in a fine of £160, payable within 28 days, with no reduction for early payment.
If a third offence occurs within the relevant three-year period, a further penalty notice will not be issued.
The Local Authority may consider other legal action, including prosecution through the Magistrates’ Court.
If prosecution is instigated for irregular school attendance and a parent is found guilty, the court can impose a fine of up to £2,500 and/or up to three months’ imprisonment.
Legal intervention is not automatic and will be considered in accordance with the National Framework and Essex County Council’s Code of Conduct. The Local Authority will consider whether sufficient support has been provided and whether legal intervention is appropriate in the circumstances.

Please see the school’s attendance policy for further information.

The Governors have agreed the following term dates for 2026/2027 Academic Year

Autumn Term

Spring Term

Summer Term

The Governors have agreed the following term dates for 2027/2028 Academic Year

Autumn Term

Spring Term

Summer Term