Crosby Primary

You are required by law to ensure that your child attends school regularly.

Leave of Absence during term time is not an entitlement and parent/carers cannot demand leave of absence for their child.  Since 1st September 2013, headteachers have the discretion to grant leave of absence, but they should only do so in exceptional circumstances.  If a headteacher grants a leave of absence request it will be for them to determine the length of time that the child can be away from school.  A headteacher will not grant leave of absence for the purpose of a family holiday.

Applications for leave of absence in term time should only be made if there are exceptional circumstances as to why the leave cannot be taken outside of term time and these circumstances must be provided to the school with an application form (retrospective consent will not be given).  Each request will be looked at on the exceptional circumstances detailed on the application form.

Any absence taken without the permission of the headteacher will be recorded as unauthorised absence in the school register, which is a legal document.

Penalty notices have been introduced under section 23 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 as an alternative to prosecution, for failing to ensure your child's regular school attendance.  Where a child has at least 10 school sessions (half days) recorded as unauthorised absence due to taking holidays in school term time, a penalty notice may be issued to all parents/carers by the local authority.  Since 1 September 2013, if a penalty notice is issued, each parent/carer will have 21 days from the date of issue to pay £60.  After 21 days it will increase to £120 per parent/carer, per child.  Failure to pay a penalty notice within 28 days will result in prosecution in the Magistrates' Court under section 444 (1/1A) of the Education Act 1996, for failing to secure regular school attendance of a child.  Persistent unauthorised absence due to leave of absence in term time may result in prosecution.