All schools by law must follow the Department for Education’s statutory guidance relating to school attendance. Parents do not have a right to take their children out of school for holidays during term time.

By law, Headteachers are not permitted to:

• Grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are very exceptional circumstances.
• Grant leave of absence retrospectively (Leave of Absence applications need to be submitted three weeks in advance).

Taking your child out of school during term time could be detrimental to their educational progress. If the absence is not authorised and the leave is taken, schools must refer to the Local Authority for legal action.

Parents wishing to apply for their child to have leave from school should complete the form below.