Holidays in Term Time

Holidays in Term Time

At Coalbrookdale & Ironbridge C.E. Primary School, we are committed to promoting excellent attendance. Every day in school matters, and time away from learning can have a significant impact on progress and wellbeing.

Term-Time Leave

The law does not grant parents an automatic right to take their child out of school during term time.

Leave of absence during term time will only be authorised in exceptional circumstances and must be requested in advance.

All requests are considered on an individual basis and are at the discretion of the Headteacher.

Requesting Leave

If you wish to request leave during term time:

• A Request for Leave of Absence Form must be completed (available from the school office).
• The form must be submitted at least four weeks in advance of the requested dates.
• Supporting evidence should be provided where appropriate.

If leave is requested due to employment restrictions such as with the armed forces, a letter from the employer must be submitted with the request.

If leave is requested for a significant family event taking place on a weekday (for example, a wedding or funeral), one day may be authorised. Where appropriate, supporting documentation such as an invitation should be provided.

Important Information

• Holidays should not be booked until written authorisation has been received.
• If leave is taken without authorisation, it will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.
• Unauthorised absences may be referred to the Local Authority and could result in a Fixed Penalty Notice in line with national regulations.

(Current penalty notices are issued at £160 per parent, per child, reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days.)

Working in Partnership

We understand that family circumstances can sometimes be complex. If you feel there are exceptional reasons for requesting leave, please speak to the school office as early as possible.

Our aim is always to work collaboratively with families while prioritising children’s education and wellbeing.

Further Information

For full details regarding attendance, leave of absence and statutory guidance, please refer to our Attendance Policy Policies – Coalbrookdale and Ironbridge C.E. Primary School

From August 19^th 2024 the Government have introduced a new ‘national framework for Penalty Notices’. (in Telford & Wrekin the changes apply from 1^st September 2024).

There are significant changes that parents need to be aware of:

• If your child has 10 sessions of unauthorised absence in a 10 school week rolling period, you may be issued with a Penalty Notice. These 10 sessions may include any unauthorised absence, including leave in term time and do not have to be consecutive.
• Penalty Notices are increasing to £160 from September 2024. This can be reduced to £80 but only for the first Penalty Notice issued, if paid within 21 days – this reduction does not apply to any subsequent Penalty Notice.
• Any 2^nd Penalty Notice, to the same parent for the same child, issued within three years of the date of the first Penalty Notice will be charged at a flat rate of £160
• A third Penalty Notice will not be issued within a three year rolling period, to the same parent for the unauthorised absence of the same child, – alternative action or legal measures will be utilised for subsequent offences.
• If in an individual case the local authority believes a Penalty Notice would be appropriate, they retain the discretion to issue one before the threshold is met. This might apply for example, when parent(s) are deliberately or purposefully avoiding the national threshold by taking several term time holidays below threshold, or for repeated absence for events such as birthdays and taking their child out of school, or when there are only four pupil days in school and the fifth day is for example a PD day or bank holiday.
• In some circumstances a ‘Notice to Improve’ may be issued – However, a Notice to Improve will only be used in cases where support is appropriate. They will not be issued in cases of unauthorised leave in term time for holidays, where information for parents is included on school’s website or a simple warning by the school that a Penalty Notice could be issued if unauthorised leave in term time is taken will suffice.

‘Parents should always apply to the Headteacher for any request for leave in term time by completing a request form available from school.  (DfE guidance states schools should not authorise leave retrospectively so any leave in term time taken without a request being submitted will be unauthorised absence)’.

In developing and publishing the new national framework, the Government has renewed appeals to parents not to take their children out of school during term time.  The Governors and Headteacher of this school support this and students will only be given permission to take leave in term time if there are exceptional circumstances. The DfE Guidance Working Together to Improve School Attendance (Aug 2024) states that: Generally, the DfE does not consider the need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation to be an exceptional circumstance. (Paragraph 38.)

Each application for leave in term time will be considered and if it is agreed and authorised the Headteacher will determine the duration of any leave. However, if the application is not agreed and the absence occurs the dates will be unauthorised. Parents will be notified of any decision in writing. 

As a school we are asked to inform you that in line with Telford and Wrekin Council Policy, if your child is absent for 10 school sessions within a 10 week rolling period and that absence is unauthorised, you may be subject to a Penalty Notice fine, criteria is as detailed above.

Penalty Notice Code of Conduct Revised for September 2024 – reviewed September 2025