Term time holidays

You can apply for your child to have time off for a holiday during term time, but headteachers will only approve this in exceptional circumstances.

Exceptional circumstances

All schools can grant a leave of absence for exceptional circumstances at their discretion. 

In the case of schools maintained by local authorities and special schools not maintained by local authorities, it must be requested in advance by a parent who the pupil normally lives with.

Schools are then expected to consider each application individually. They will take into account the specific facts and circumstances and relevant background context behind the request. 

If a leave of absence is granted, it is for the school to determine the length of the time the pupil can be away from school.

Starting 19 August 2024, the National Threshold for issuing a Penalty Notice has been met when

• a pupil has been recorded for an unauthorized absence for 10 sessions within 10 school weeks
• a ‘session’ is a morning or afternoon
• the ‘10-week school period’ may span different terms or school years

Fines are issued to each parent, for each child, as listed. These are the number of fines within a rolling three-year period.

• The first penalty notice issued to a parent in respect of a particular pupil will be charged at £160 if paid within 28 days. This will be reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days.
• A second penalty notice issued to the same parent in respect of the same pupil is charged at a flat rate of £160 if paid within 28 days. 
• A third penalty notice cannot be issued to the same parent in respect of the same child within 3 years of the date of issue of the first. 
  • In a case where the national threshold is met for a third time (or subsequent times) within those 3 years, the Local Authority may consider a court prosecution.