School Attendance
Taking children on holiday during term time
Advanced notice of important changes to Fixed Penalty Notice fines with effect from 19 August 2024
With effect from the 19 August 2024, the law changes and Penalty Notices will increase. Penalty charges will be £160 if paid within 28 days reducing to £80 if paid within 21 days per parent/carer per child.
The National Framework for Penalty Notices introduces a new national limit of two penalty notices that can now be issued to a parent for the same child within a rolling three year period. If a second Fixed Penalty Notice is issued to the same parent for the same child, within three years of the first Fixed Penalty Notice, the second Fixed Penalty Notice is charged at a flat rate of £160 if paid within 28 days.
Once two Fixed Penalty Notices have been issued, if a third unauthorised leave of absence occurs within a three year period, the Local Authority is able to move to prosecution immediately.
Improving regular attendance at school is a key priority, for local authorities and government alike. The Education Act 1996 makes it a criminal offence for a parent to 'fail to secure their child’s regular attendance at the school'.
In 2013, the Department for Education (DFE) announced important amendments to legislation surrounding the taking of holidays in term time.
As of 1 September 2013, the legislation which previously granted Head Teachers the discretion to approve up to two weeks (ie ten school days) leave of absence during term time for the purposes of a family holiday in special circumstances has changed.
The Education (Pupil Registration) Regulations 2006 (as amended) now state that a leave of absence during term time can only be approved by a Head Teacher/School Governing Body when:
- a written request is made in advance of the leave being taken and the circumstances of the requested leave are ‘exceptional’
There is no longer any provision for ‘holidays’ in the regulations.
How to request time off for your child
If you need to take your child out of school during term time, you'll need to submit a written request to the Head Teacher and the School's Governing Body. They will consider if your circumstances are 'exceptional' and let you know if your request has been approved. Please note that holidays are not normally considered exceptional.
If you take your child out of school without approval, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised. If the unauthorised absence is for ten consecutive school sessions (i.e. five school days) or more, the local authority may issue a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) to each of the child's parents or caregivers at the request of the Head Teacher or School Governing Body.
Pay for a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN)
You can pay for your FPN by using our form. Please have your FPN number to hand to make this payment.
