Term Dates and absence
School Holidays & Inset Days
Absence during term time including holidays
In line with Department for Education policy, and the local Poynton, Disley and Adlington schools, the school’s position is that leave of absence in term time will only be authorised in exceptional circumstances, such as attendance at family weddings (immediate family), funerals, educational examinations or participation in religious observance or sporting events.
In considering whether or not to authorise leave of absence, the school will consider each case individually. The school will not authorise leave of absence during any examination periods.
Where an absence is authorised the appropriate code will be used in the register as follows:
C: Leave of absence authorised by school
H: Holiday authorised by the school
M: Medical or dental appointment
R: Religious observance
T: Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Absence (Occupational purposes)
NB: Illness is marked with I
The school will fully implement amendments in The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 from 1st September 2013. The head teacher will not grant any leave of absence during term time. (Other exceptional circumstances may apply.)
There is no entitlement to leave during term time for the purpose of a holiday and parents have a legal duty to ensure that their children attend school on a regular basis. Each Head teacher can determine what constitutes an exceptional circumstance and authorise leave based on individual cases. Availability of cheap holidays and overlap with the beginning or end of a term will not be accepted as exceptional circumstances.
The school should be notified of all absence during term-time in writing by the parent/carer with whom the child resides. A ‘request for leave of absence in term time’ is available to download below.
The form should be completed and returned to school at least 2 weeks before the first day of absence. The form can be obtained from the School Office or on the school’s website below.
A written response from the Head teacher (or Deputy) will be sent advising the parent/carer of the school’s decision regarding the holiday request. In this situation, If the holiday goes ahead after the application has been declined the absence will be recorded as unauthorised.
Parents should be aware that if your child has 10 unauthorised sessions (equivalent to 5 days) of absence due to holiday in term time this will be referred to Cheshire East and may result in a school absence penalty notice (fine). Please see the table below.
Penalties for unauthorised absence |
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Timeline |
One child |
Two children |
Paid within 21 days |
£60 per parent |
£60 per child = £120 per parent |
After 21 days and before 28 days
|
£120 per parent |
£120 per child = £240 per parent |
After 28 days |
The parents will receive a summons to appear before the Magistrates’ Court on the grounds the parents have failed to secure their child’s regular attendance |
The parents will receive a summons to appear before the Magistrates’ Court on the grounds the parents have failed to secure their children’s regular attendance |