GOVERNMENT LEGALISATION FOR HOLIDAYS IN TERM TIME.
The Department for Education (DfE) has announced some important changes to the legislation surrounding holidays in term time. The change in legislation has been introduced to reduce the high levels of absence that occur as a result of this. In the academic year 2011 to 2012, 9.7 % of all absences in England were due to parents taking their child on holiday during term time. Please ensure you read the changes outlined in this letter carefully as no further requests for holidays in term time will be granted.
From the 1 September 2013, the new law does not give any entitlement to parents to take their child on holiday during term time. Any application for leave of absence during term time will only be considered by the headteacher if there are exceptional circumstances that warrant granting leave. All requests for leave of absence for exceptional circumstances must be made on our Application for Leave of Absence during Term Time forms are available from the school office or can be downloaded on the school website by clicking on the blue writing above. The headteacher will consider each individual case. Only the headteacher can determine the number of schools days a pupil can be absent from school if the leave of absence for exceptional circumstances is granted. Parents can be fined by the Local Authority for taking their children on holiday during term time or for any other leave of absence without the consent of the headteacher.
I hope that all parents will support us on this matter by not taking your child out of school during term time and recognise that the new legislation will bring about increased attendance and improved attainment in our school.
Further information can be found on the DfE website at : www.dfe.gov.uk