Taking holidays during Term Time
As of September 2013, the law has restricted a Head Teacher’s ability to authorise holidays during term time. Head Teachers are now only empowered to approve a leave of absence when it is requested in advance by the parent or carer with whom the child resides and when the circumstances of the requested leave are ‘exceptional’.
CWAC have asked us to make you aware that following the release of the Judgment of the Supreme Court in Spring 2017, unless there are exceptional circumstances, a term time holiday is contrary to s.444(1) of the Education Act 1996 and a Fixed Penalty Notice can be issued accordingly.
Therefore, from September 2017, we will now be resuming the issuing of Fixed Penalty Notice’s for any unauthorised absence taken.
Should an unauthorised absence take place the school will inform the Local Authority. The law stipulates that the current penalties payable by parents/carers are £60 when the penalty is paid within 21 days, increasing to £120 when the penalty is paid within the next 7 days (giving a total of 28 days to pay). This penalty is per parent/carer per child for the duration of the absence.
If the Fixed Penalty is not paid you could be prosecuted in the Magistrates’ Court. For any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact Debbie Ward on 01244 976175 or email FPNPayments@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.
Any request for a leave of absence should be made in writing to the school for consideration by the Head Teacher in line with the criteria of ‘exceptional circumstances’ as provided for by the current regulations, or by completing and returning the attached form.
Should you still choose to take your child out of school during the requested period, the leave of absence will still be recorded on your child’s registration record as unauthorised.
If your child is ill
Parents are asked to please telephone school before 8.50am to leave a message if your child is ill. If we don’t hear from you by 9am, we will ring to check where your child is.
Although we appreciate children can sometimes become poorly, if your child’s attendance falls below the national average of 90%, we are now required to ask parents / carers for medical evidence to authorise absences due to illness.