Term Time Is School Time!

Time off school for family holidays is not a legal right. Taking your child out of school during term time will be detrimental to his/her education. However, you may apply for leave of absence if you feel your circumstances are exceptional and necessary. Agreement to each request is at the discretion of the Head Teacher, acting on behalf of the Governing Body.

Examples of exceptional circumstances for which absence may be authorised at Benhall Infant School are:

1. Absence to attend a funeral or visit a relative with a serious illness

2. Taking part in religious observance for a specific period

3. For service personnel and other employees who are prevented from taking holidays outside term time (letter required from employer)

 

Holidays which are taken for the following reasons are not authorised:

1. Availability for cheap holidays

2. Availability of the desired accommodation

3. Poor weather experienced in school holiday periods

4. Overlap with beginning or end of term

These lists are not exhaustive and are at the discretion of the Head Teacher.

 

Requests need to be approved before children can take a leave of absence. If a request is not made within this timeframe, is refused and the child does not attend school, or if any days in excess of granted leave are taken without permission, such absences will be classed as ‘unauthorised’. In the case of an unauthorised leave of absence, the Head Teacher may request that the Local Authority issue a Fixed Penalty Notice without further warning to the parent. Please note that such a penalty is issued to each parent for each child taken out of school. Information regarding penalty notices can be found: gcc-nti-and-pn-information.pdf

Parents wishing to apply for a leave of absence should complete the form below. Parents will be informed of the outcome within seven school days.