TAKING HOLIDAYS DURING SCHOOL TERMS

Last modified 05.07.10

Taking holidays during school terms
(You and the law on School Attendance) – information supplied by the Attendance and Engagement Team at
Oxfordshire County Council

There is no right time to take a child on holiday during a school term.  Learning takes place throughout the whole term and your child will miss out on this if they are on holiday.

If you take your child on holiday for two weeks every year, your child will miss more than six months education during the time they are of statutory school age.

The law says

•    That parents/carers do not have a right to take a child out of school for holiday leave during term time.

•    Schools have discretionary powers, in exceptional circumstances, to grant up to 10 days holiday during term time.

•    Schools have discretionary powers to grant more than 10 days holiday, extended leave, in exceptional circumstances.

What does school take into account when considering a request for holiday leave?

When a school considers a request for holiday during school term they will take the following into account before any permission is granted:
The child’s overall pattern of attendance during the previous academic year and the current academic year.
The likely impact on the child’s education.
Whether the holiday fall within a year that the child is due to take public exams.
Whether the child is due to be taking part in assessment work for a particular Key Stage.
The length, destination and purpose of the holiday and whether it is likely to be a rare event in the life of a child.
The family circumstances and the parents’/carers’ reasons for wanting to take their annual holiday during term time.

How do I request holiday leave?

Before you can take our child on holiday you must follow the school’s procedure for asking permission for holiday leave.  You may be asked to fill in a holiday request form or you may be asked to write a letter giving full details and the reason why the holiday has to be taken during term time.

The Headteacher, acting on behalf of the Governors of the school and in accordance with the school’s attendance policy, will decide if the request for holiday leave can be granted and for how many days.  They will then inform parents/carers if permission has been granted.

Any request must be submitted in writing at least one month before the start date of the holiday.

You should not assume that permission will be granted and it would, therefore, be advisable to seek permission before booking a holiday.

Permission cannot be granted if you take your child on holiday and do not seek permission until you return.

Extended Leave

It is possible to request extended leave to allow families to make a visit to relatives abroad.  When considering requests for extended leave, parents/carers should, where possible, ensure that the majority of the extended leave is taken during school holidays.

If your child is not able to return to school on the agreed date following an holiday, or extended leave, you should contact the school as soon as possible to inform them of the reason why your child is not returning to school as agreed.  If a child fails to return to school on the agreed date, their absence may be marked as unauthorised and their name could be removed from the school roll.  This may mean that your child would have to apply for a school place when they return from extended leave.

What will happen if I take my child on holiday without permission from school?

If no permission is granted by the school and you still take your child on holiday, a Warning Notice will be sent.  If you take a second holiday without permission, a Penalty Notice, carrying a fine of £50, can be issued, or you may even be prosecuted under Section 444 of the Education Act 1996 for failing to ensure that your child attends school.

Children of statutory school age are required to attend school on 190 days a year.  This means that there are 175 days in a year when your child is not required to attend school.

Your child’s education is important and missing 10 days of school will mean:

•    Missing taught time
•    Having to catch up with work missed, whilst taking on a new areas of work when they return

And could mean:

•    Not being able to complete important modules of coursework which contribute to exams
•    Missing extra curricula activities that take place during the school day
•    Increasing their workload when they return, as they will have to catch up with missed work and complete new work
•    Miss importance assessment work

Research has shown that there is a close link between attendance at school and a child’s achievement.

All time out of school affects learning and achievement for both primary and secondary pupils.

By arranging holidays outside of term time, you will be giving your child the best chance to succeed.

Where can I find help?
Contact the Attendance and Engagement Team, the contact details are listed below:

Senior Attendance & Engagement Officer
Hazel Ackroyd
Northern Attendance and Engagement Office
Samuelson House
1st Floor, Tramway Road
Banbury
Oxon, OX16 5AU

Area Service Manager
Mark Corness
Samuelson House
1st Floor, Tramway Road
Banbury
Oxon, OX16 5AU

If you need this information in another language, large print, Braille, on audiocassette, computer disk or by email, please telephone:  01865 323444

Information is also available on the Internet at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk
Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

www.oxfordshireservicesdirectory.org.uk
Directory for parents/carers and people working with children