Absence Requests
Absence Requests During Term Time
The Department for Education (DfE) has announced important amendments to legislation surrounding holidays in term time.
From the 1st September 2013, the new law does not give any entitlement to parents to take their child on holiday during term time. Any applications for leave of absence must be inexceptional circumstances and the Headteacher must be satisfied that the circumstances warrant the granting of leave.
Parents can be fined by the Local Authority for taking their child on holiday during term time without consent from the school.
In the academic year 2011 to 2012, 9.7% of all absences in England were due to parents taking their children out of school during term time. This high level of absence has led the DfE to make this important change to legislation.
As a school, we fully appreciate the financial difficulties that some parents face when booking holidays, particularly during school holidays however, there is an expectation that all schools in Cheshire West and Chester introduce firm policies and stringent checks to ensure that there is a significant reduction in the number of absence during term time.
I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the school to thank you for your full support in this matter by not taking your child out of school during term time.
This new legislation will bring about increased attendance and improving standards in our borough’s schools.
Further information can be obtained from www.dfe.gov.uk
Yours sincerely,
MA
Michelle Ashfield
Headteacher
If you would like to discuss a term time abscence, contact
Mrs Plested on 01244 667660
