School is a vital ingredient in a child’s whole development. Any time missed can never be regained and will have a negative impact. It is expected that children should only be absent when they are unwell or unable to attend for a valid reason.

It is a legal requirement for parents/carers to obtain the permission of the Headteacher before removing their child from school in order to take a holiday during term time.

Important Update – Changes to Education-related Penalty Notices

You may be aware that the Department for Education has recently announced changes to the national school attendance protocols. These changes came into effect on 19 August 2024. The full guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-improve-school-attendance

From this date, all holidays in term time will be unauthorised unless deemed to be exceptional with the system for penalty notices issued for unauthorised absence in term time also changing:

• Penalty notices issued for offences that take place after 19 August 2024 will be charged at a new rate of £160 per parent per child. This can be paid at £80 if paid within 21 days.

• Any second penalty notice issued to the same parent for the same child within a rolling 3-year period will be issued at the rate of £160 to be paid within 28 days with no option for a discounted rate.

• The threshold at which a penalty notice must be considered is set at 10 sessions (equivalent to 5 days) of unauthorised absence within a rolling 10-school week period. This may include absences as a result of arriving late after the register closes. The 10 school weeks may span different terms or school years.

• A maximum of 2 penalty notices may be issued to a parent for the same child within a rolling 3-year period, so at the 3rd (or subsequent) offence(s) another course of action will need to be considered (such as prosecution or one of the other attendance legal interventions).

• Only penalty notices issued for absences taking place after 19 August 2024 will count towards the above thresholds.

Where we have concerns about the leave request, we will arrange to meet with you to discuss your application.

For further information: www.lancashire.gov.uk/children-education-families/schools/absence-from-school.aspx#holidays

Please complete the form below and return to school at least 6 weeks in advance of any proposed absence for holiday.