Holiday Leave Entitlement
Following many statements regarding school attendance by the Secretary of State, Mr Gove, the Government is now introducing some significant changes to attendance regulations for pupils at school, some of which you need to be aware.
The most important of these is in relation to term-time family holidays. Below is a quotation directly from the Department for Education circular:
‘Amendments to the 2006 regulations remove references to family holiday and extended leave as well as the statutory threshold of ten school days. The amendments make clear that headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.’
(www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport/behaviour/attendance/a00223868/regulations-amendments)
I draw your attention particularly to the second sentence of the paragraph. Although it is not possible to define exceptional circumstances, examples of what might be considered as such are:
These amendments come into effect this school year. Therefore, may I ask that you respect these new regulations under which we must now work. If you do need to take your child out of school during term time, you make very clear in your request how the circumstances are exceptional. If this is not clear then under the new legislation, I will not be allowed to grant leave.
https://www.gov.uk/school-attendance-absence/overview
