Leave of absence / extended holiday
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Authorised Absence
Absences may be authorised for a number of reasons at the Headteacher’s discretion. For example:
- Medical reasons, where the school has been notified.
- Doctors/Hospital or Dental appointments known in advance, although parents are asked to make appointments out of school hours where at all possible.
- Religious observance (in accordance with Kirklees LA guidance).
Unauthorised Absence
Unauthorised absences may be unauthorised for a number of reasons at the Headteacher’s discretion. These include:
- Extended leave which has not been authorised.
- Visiting relations (in the UK or abroad) or trips to the airport.
- Medical reasons that are not accompanied with an explanation, or with a note on return to school.
- Medical appointments for a parent/carer.
- Sleeping in (on a regular basis).
- Shopping or a haircut.
Unauthorised absence can lead to the authority using sanctions and or legal proceedings.
Extended leave/Visits abroad
The LA, school and governors view is that children should not be absent from school for the purposes of a holiday/extended leave. Therefore, term time leave will be unauthorised. Guidance issued by the DFE in ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ has strengthened the view that children should not be taken out of school for the purposes of a holiday:
- …the DfE does not consider a need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation to be an exceptional circumstance.
Parents/carers should make every effort to avoid taking their children out of education during term time. The school will only authorise a leave of absence during term time only where there are exceptional circumstances.
To request a leave of absence, parents/carers must make the request in advance and in writing addressed to the Headteacher and, wherever possible, at least 20 working days ahead of the planned leave. Forms are available from the school office.
Where a leave of absence is requested as above, the Headteacher will consider the specific facts and circumstances relating to the request. The decision:
- will be confirmed in writing
- is solely at the Headteacher’s discretion and
- is final.
Where permission is granted, the Headteacher will confirm the number of days and dates of absence which are authorised.
If permission is not granted and the parents/carers proceed to take their child out of school, the absence will be marked as unauthorised and parents/carers may be issued with a penalty notice or be subject to prosecution by the local authority.
We do not consider the following as exceptional circumstances (these are not an exhaustive list):
- Family reunions or gatherings.
- A family holiday at a lower cost.
- Family events including weddings/funerals/visiting ill relatives/Umrah.
- Parent’s/carer’s work / holiday rota.
- Holidays booked by a family member without parent’s/carer’s knowledge.
Where parents/carers have failed to ensure that their child of compulsory school age is regularly attending the school and wider support in accordance with this policy is not appropriate or effective, we may consider issuing a penalty notice. A penalty notice is a fine issued to each parent of each child (£80 if paid within 21 days or £160 if paid within 28 days. In the case of repeated fines, where a second fine is issued for the same child within any three year period, this will be charged at the higher rate of £160).
This is paid directly to the local authority.
Safeguarding children’s welfare
In a small number of cases, schools could have concerns about a pupil’s welfare whilst abroad. In such cases, the school should seek support from their Local Authority. For more information and guidance on this, please refer to section 5 of the online Kirklees Safeguarding Children’s Partnership Procedures Manual
http://www.kirkleessafeguardingchildren.co.uk/procedures-guidance.html