Frodsham Manor House Primary School
Click below to view the school term dates.
Taking holidays during term time
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
The government defines a pupil with attendance below 90% at the end of an academic year as a ‘persistent absentee’. School is obliged to do everything it can to ensure the highest levels of attendance and, therefore, in these cases, school may contact the Educational Welfare Officer. In a small number of cases, a low attendance rate is explained by exceptional circumstances (e.g. a prolonged period of time in hospital/of illness) and school would, of course, be aware of this before considering if any further support may be needed.
As of August 2024, the law ceases to include a leave of absence for a family holiday. A leave of absence should not be granted unless there are exceptional circumstances. Generally, a need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation would not constitute an exceptional circumstance. Head Teachers are only empowered to approve a leave of absence when it is requested in advance by the parent or carer with whom the child resides and when circumstances of the requested leave are ‘exceptional’ As this request does not meet the criterion of ‘exceptional circumstances’, I am unfortunately unable to authorise this absence.
Should you still choose to take this leave of absence with your child during this period the Local Authority will be informed as this will constitute an unauthorised absence. A Fixed Penalty Notice will then be issued in accordance with section 444 of the Education Act 1996.
The law stipulates that the current penalties payable by parents are £160 if paid within 28 days reducing to £80 if paid within 21 days per parent/carer per child. The National Framework for penalty notices introduces a new national limit of 2 penalty notices that can now be issued to a parent for the same child within a rolling 3-year period. If a second Fixed Penalty Notice is issued to the same parent for the same child, within three years of a first Fixed Penalty Notice, the second Fixed Penalty Notice is charged at a flat rate of £160 if paid within 28 days.
Once two Fixed Penalty Notices have been issued, if a 3rd unauthorised leave of absence occurs within a 3-year period, the Local Authority is able to move to prosecution immediately. If the fixed penalty is not paid this could lead to you being prosecuted in the Magistrates’ Court.
If you feel this decision has not taken into account any relevant exceptional circumstances, please contact the school immediately for further discussion.
Section 444 of the Education Act 1996, makes it a criminal offence for a parent to fail to secure their child’s attendance at the school at which they are registered, where that absence is not authorised by the school. Therefore If the Fixed Penalty Notice is paid within the time limits above no further action will be taken in connection with the offence. If the fixed penalty notice remains unpaid the file is passed to the Authorities Legal Services and the parent/carer could get prosecuted in the Magistrate’s Court.
When requesting a leave of absence, please fill in the absence request form below (a paper copy can be obtained at the school office) and return it to the School Office. A reply will be issued to you within 5 working days.