Exceptional Leave of Absence
Exceptional Leave of Absence
At Ponteland Primary School our aim is to collaborate with parents to ensure that all our pupils receive the most from their education and reach their full potential.
This is to remind all parents about the law that requires them to ensure that their child attends school regularly. The Government is very clear that no child should miss school apart from in exceptional circumstances and schools must take steps to reduce absence to support children’s attainment.
The Education Act (1996) requires parents to ensure their child attends school regularly. There is no automatic right to take your child out of school during term time. The Law does however allow Headteachers to consider individual requests to authorise a Leave of Absence in Exceptional Circumstance(s).
We expect every pupil’s attendance to be 100% unless there are exceptional or unavoidable reasons for absence. Parents do not have any legal entitlement to take their child on holiday during term time. The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 (Amended September 2024) makes it clear that Headteachers cannot grant leave of absence during term time unless exceptional circumstances exist, and the absence is recorded as unauthorised. The Headteacher will then follow the correct procedures and inform the matter to the Local Authority. This may result in a Penalty Notice being issued. This is the Headteacher’s decision.
A Penalty Notice is £80 if paid within 21 days of receipt, rising to £160 if paid after 21 days but within 28 days. If the penalty is not paid in full by the end of the 28 day period the Local Authority may prosecute for the offence to which the notice applies.
Each parent/carer may be issued with a Penalty Notice in respect of each child.
Research suggests that children who are absent from school may never catch up on the learning they have missed, which may ultimately affect exam and test results. As a parent/carer, you can demonstrate your commitment to your child’s education by not allowing your child to miss school for anything other than an exceptional and unavoidable reason.
Please click here to download the form which needs to be filled in and sent back to the school office.
