Please read the following information regarding attendance:

Amendments to attendance regulations are updated and enforced from September 2013:  The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations state that Headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.  It is important to note that Headteachers can determine the length of the authorised absence, as well as whether absence is authorised at all.

There is, however, no legal entitlement for time off in school term time to go on holiday and in all cases, holiday will not be authorised.  Parents and carers wishing to apply for leave of absence need to complete and return the application form below, which is also available from Reception, in advance and before making any travel arrangements.

If term-time leave is taken, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised.  If the number of sessions absent is in line with, or above the thresholds described in Hampshire County Council’s Code of Conduct, then parents and carers will be issued with a Fixed-Penalty Fine or other legal action may be taken in accordance with the code.

Post-Covid Leave of Absence Requests: 
As a result of restrictions easing, schools may receive an increasing number of term time holiday requests.  These may be due to a number of factors but some parents report that a holiday booked last year has been transferred to dates which fall in term time this year.  Whilst the decision to authorise a term-time holiday remains at the Headteacher's discretion, education law has not changed.  Only in exceptional circumstances may a Headteacher grant permission for leave and it is the Headteacher's decision on whether the absence is exceptional and how many days to approve.

Please be aware that with immediate effect, if a Penalty Notice has previously been issued and this has been ineffective in addressing the absenteeism, the case must be referred to the Attendance Legal Panel (ALP) who will then decide whether to issue a subsequent Penalty Notice or recommend alternative intervention which may include parental prosecution.