Parents/Carers do not have the right to take their children out of school during term time. They may receive a Fixed Penalty Notice for taking holidays without the Headteacher's permission.
Before taking a child out of school during term time, parents/carers should complete a leave of absence request form, at least four weeks before the leave is taken. They should return it to the schools' Headteacher.
The Headteacher/Principal must authorise any holiday requests in term time. Theirs is the final decision. The Headteacher can only grant a request for leave in exceptional circumstances. Schools do not consider holidays an exception.
Issuing a Fixed Penalty Notice
With the introduction of the new National Framework for Penalty Notices, the following changes will come into force for Penalty Notice Fines issued for unauthorised holidays recorded by schools after 19 August 2024.
Who may be fined?
Penalty Notice Fines are issued to each parent who allows their child to be absent from school. For example: 3 siblings absent for term time leave, would result in each parent who allowed the holiday receiving 3 separate fines.
National Threshold
There will be a single consistent national threshold for when a penalty notice must be considered by all schools in England of 10 sessions (usually equivalent to 5 school days) of unauthorised absence within a rolling 10 school week period. For example: a 5 day holiday would meet the national threshold. The 10-school week period can span different terms or school years.
First Offence
The first time a Penalty Notice is issued for an unauthorised term time holiday the fine amount will be: £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days. Increasing to £160 if paid between days 22-28.
Second Offence (within 3 years)
The Second time a Penalty Notice is issued for unauthorised absence the amount will be: £160 per parent (who allowed the holiday), per child, payable within 28 days.
Third Offence and Any Further Offences (within 3 years)
The third time an offence is committed a Penalty Notice will not be issued and local authorities will need to consider other available measures to address the absence concerns. This may mean that cases are presented before a Magistrate’s Court. Prosecution can result in criminal records and fines of up to £2,500. Cases found guilty in the Magistrates’ Court can show on the parent’s future DBS certificate due to ‘failure to safeguard a child’s education’.
Paying a Fixed Penalty Notice
To make a payment, please telephone the Attendance and Inclusion Team on 01902 551499. Open Monday to Thursday 9am to 4.30pm and Friday 9am to 4pm
Have your debit/credit card ready. Please note we do not accept American Express Cards.
Monitoring a penalty notice
We will monitor and evaluate the outcomes of penalty notices with regards to:
- improvement in school attendance
- payment
- any following legal action
We will review the use of the notices at regular intervals. We may amend the enforcement strategy of the local authority as a result.
Data will be provided at the beginning of each academic year to the parental responsibility and behaviour data collection. This is part of the administration of penalty notices and on behalf of the local authority.
Withdrawing a Fixed Penalty Notice
We only consider withdrawing a fixed penalty notice in the following situations:
- We shouldn't have issued it. For example, we have issued it outside the terms of the Code of Conduct
- You have committed no offence
- We have issued it to the wrong person
- It contains material errors
- If you believe the school have recorded the absence incorrectly. You will need to contact the school to find out how they have recorded an absence
Contact Us
For more information, email the Inclusion and Attendance Team or call 01902 550621.