Attendance

Evidence shows that every school day matters in a young person’s education.  Students who have good attendance at school have better wellbeing and achieve better results than those who don’t.

Requests for term time leave

Requests for term time leave will only be considered in exceptional circumstances. Taking a young person out of school for a family holiday will be marked as unauthorised absence and headteachers are required to consider issuing a penalty notice (fine) to parents.

Headteachers are also required to consider issuing a penalty notice (fine) to parents where there have been 10 sessions (totalling 5 school days) over a 10 school week period.  The absences may or may not be on consecutive days.

Information on the government’s approach to term time absence can be found at educationhub.blog.gov.uk.

How much are the fines for unauthorised absence during term time?

From August 2024, as part of the government’s national framework for penalty notices, fines issued will be:

• First instance of unauthorised absence:
  • £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days.
  • £160 per parent, per child if paid within 28 days.
• Second instance of unauthorised absence (within a three-year period):
  • £160 per parent, per child if paid within 28 days.
• Third and subsequent instances of unauthorised absence (within a three-year period):
  • Other action such as prosecution will be considered. In this circumstance, fines can be up to £2,500 per parent, per child.

Money raised by the local authority from fines is used by that local authority to cover their costs and to fund attendance support. Any remaining money is returned to the government.