As you are all aware attendance in school is vital to a child's education and their ability to learn.

It is expected that children will achieve

at least 95% across the year

and many of our children do achieve this.
 
Children absent for no valid reason

and those who arrive late

(after registration closes)

will be marked as unauthorised.
 
Where there is a problem with attendance

please come and speak

to the teacher or headteacher.

Family Holidays in Term Time
 
Previous interpretations of the regulations

where Head Teachers could grant pupils

leave of absence of up to 10 days

for the purpose of a two week family holiday

in term time has been interpreted

by some parents as a right to an automatic

two week term-time holiday.

This is not acceptable and the rules have been strengthened to prevent

this happening in future.
 
For this reason the Government has brought in new guidance tightening up the regulations

related to pupils taking time off in term-time.

These new rules came into force

on 1st September 2013.
 
Head Teachers are no longer permitted

to authorise absence for holidays

taken during term time.
 
They are permitted to grant leave

only in exceptional circumstances.

If you think you have exceptional circumstances please talk to us without delay

and before arrangements

are entered into or money committed.
 
If exceptional circumstances are accepted

the Head Teacher will determine how much absence will be authorised.

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Holidays which are unauthorised

should not be taken. If they are taken,

parents are in breach of their legal duty to ensure that their child attends school full time

and may be subject to a Fixed Penalty Notice

or prosecution through the courts.