Please read the information below before completing this form.
*The decision to grant the request is for the school, not the Authority or the parent. Only schools can authorise absences.
*There is no requirement to authorise just because a request has been made.
*The Anti-Social Behaviour Act (2003) gives the Local Authority the power to issue fixed penalty notices for unauthorised leave of absence during term time.
*No parent can demand leave of absence for the purposes of a holiday as a right.
*Any request for leave must be made in advance (preferably 4 weeks notice)
*Holidays cannot be authorised retrospectively.
*If the application for leave of absence in term time is made because of the parent's workplace holiday arrangements then a letter from the employer explaining why the leave of absence must be take in term time MUST be provided to school on letter-headed paper. In this case, the legislation around exceptional circumstances is still valid and can be considered. This does not mean the request will be authorised or that the National Framework and application of FPNs will disapply.
*If important work has been missed by the pupil due to the parents making a request for leave of absence for a holiday, the parents should not expect special arrangements to be made by the school for that pupil to catch up that work.
From 19th August 2024, the Government have introduced a new National Framework for
Penalty Notices. Under the National Framework all schools will be required to
consider a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) when a child has missed 10 or more
sessions (5 days) for unauthorised reasons within 10 school weeks.
In the majority of cases, schools and the Council will try and provide support to help
families improve children’s attendance first, but if this isn’t effective, or if the absence is for an unauthorised
term time holiday, parents may receive an FPN. FPN’s are used as an
alternative to prosecution.
The National Framework for Penalty Notices sets out that a maximum of 2 FPN’s per child, per parent can be issued within a
rolling 3-year period. If the national threshold is met for a
third time (or subsequent times) within 3 years, another tool will be used.
The First FPN in a 3-year period: £160 per parent, per child to be paid within 28 days.
Reduced to £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days
The Second FPN in a 3-year period: £160 per parent, per child to be paid within 28 days
The Third occasion in a 3-year period: A FPN will not be issued, and the Council will
consider alternative enforcement such as a court summons.
Thank you.
