Term Time Absence

Absence

Parent/Carer Role

You must make sure your child gets a full-time education that meets their needs (eg if they have special educational needs). You can send your child to school or educate them yourself. Children must get an education between the school term after their 5th birthday and the last Friday in June in the school year they turn 16. You must then do one of the following until you’re 18: Stay in full-time education, eg at a college Start an apprenticeship or traineeship Work or volunteer (for 20 hours or more a week) while in part-time education or training.

You’ll be contacted by either:

• the school - if your child is enrolled in school and doesn’t turn up (even if they’re only absent for a day)
• the council’s education welfare officer - if they think your child isn’t getting a suitable education at home

You can be prosecuted if you don’t give your child an education. You’ll normally get warnings and offers of help from the local council first. You can get education and attendance information from your local council (North Northants).

Attendance Policy

 Term Time Absence

When can your child miss school?

You can only allow your child to miss school if either:

• They’re too ill to go in.
• You’ve got advance authorisation/permission from the school - there’s extra support available if your child can’t go to school for long periods because of a health problem.

You have to get permission from the Headteacher if you want to take your child out of school during term time. You can only do this if:

• You make an application to the head teacher in advance (as a parent whom the child normally lives with).
• There are exceptional circumstances when authorisation/permission could be given. It’s up to the head teacher how many days your child can be away from school if leave is granted.

Penalty Notice Information 

Can I be fined if my child misses school?

You can be fined for taking your child out of school, on holiday for example, during term time without the school’s permission.  Please always ensure honesty and complete an absence request form (link below).  

Unauthorised holiday requests could possibly be referred to the Local Authority Educational Inclusion and Partnership Team who may decide to issue a Penalty Notice incurring a fine.  The EIPT team will take into consideration:

10 sessions (usually equivalent to 5 school days) of unauthorised absence within a rolling 10 school week period.  These sessions do not have to be consecutive and can be made up of a combination of any type of unauthorised absence.  The 10-school week period can span different terms or school years.

For more information, please refer to the Penalty Notices information within the term time absence request form.   

Term Time Absence Request Form

 Please note that regarding school trips, your child’s school can ask you for a voluntary contribution to the cost of activities like school trips. They can’t stop your child from attending if you don’t pay, but they should cancel the activity if there isn’t enough money to cover the cost of it.