Dear Parents,
The Local Authority has just sent schools additional guidance concerning procedures for requesting leave of absence during term time.
The following points are important for those considering such absences to understand:
1 Parents still have to apply for leave of absence by requesting a form from the school office.
2 Leave of absence will not be granted unless ‘exceptional circumstances’ can be demonstrated and evidenced. The following are examples of ‘exceptional’ circumstances:
- Service personnel returning from active deployment.
- Where inflexibility of the parents’ leave or working arrangement is part of the organisation or company policy. This would need to be evidenced by the production or confirmation from the organisation/company.
- Where leave is recommended as part of a parents’ or child’s rehabilitation from medical or emotional problems. Evidence must be provided.
- When a family needs to spend time together to support each other during or after a crisis.
3 If more than ten sessions (half days) of unauthorised absence occur within a period of four months a penalty notice of £60 will be issued by the Local Authority
I am sorry to sound so officious but it is important that you know how strenuously the Department for Education is targeting school absences. Please do come and discuss your situation and circumstances if that would be helpful.
