WHAT THE LAW SAYS:
Schools are regularly audited to ensure that they are following government guidelines and policies. Schools are not permitted to authorise leave of absence requests from September 2013, unless in exceptional circumstances. Parents do not have an automatic right to take their children out of school for holidays during term time. Family holidays taken in term time will not be authorised. The Government/Local Authority may fine parents who take their children out of school for family holidays.
There are clear links between children’s attendance and their attainment. A child absent from school for two school weeks each year will miss the equivalent of two terms’ education over their school career. This is a strong factor in seeking to reduce all avoidable absence.
