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Four Elms Primary School

Four Elms Primary School

Absence and holiday requests

Absence 

It is a legal requirement for parents to ensure that their children attend school between the ages of 5 and 16 unless they have decided to educate them at home. Parents are responsible for ensuring that their children are at school for the 190 days of the school year. The remaining 175 days are school holidays. All pupils are therefore expected to be in school each day unless their absence from school is unavoidable.

My child is unwell today. What should I do?

All children need to be in school every day to achieve their best. Of course, we understand when a child is too poorly to attend school and in this case we ask you please to either: telephone the school, email the school or fill in our absence form online (preferred option). 

Attendance criteria for reports

1

Oustanding

100%

Your child has missed 0 days from school

2

Good

95% to 99%

Your child has missed approximately up to 9 days 

3

Room for improvement

94% to 90%

Your child has missed approximately up to 19 days 

4

Cause for concern

89% to 85%

Your child has missed approximately up to 29 days 

5

Serious concern

Below 85%

Your child has missed approximately a minimum of 30 days 

Holiday requests  

I would like to take my child out of school to go on holiday. What do I need to do?

In the past, headteachers were allowed to to grant up to 10 days leave of absence per year for the purpose of a family holiday during term time in “special circumstances”. Additionally, Headteachers could grant extended leave for more than ten school days in exceptional circumstances. (The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 ).

However, government have made changes to the 2006 regulations. These changes now make it clear that headteachers may not grant any holidays during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. For this reason, the ten day allowance has been removed and headteachers  should determine the number of school days a child can be away from school if the leave is granted. These changes came into effect on 1st September 2013. Parents can be fined for taking their child on holiday during term time without consent from the school penalty notices. Penalty notices of £60 will be issued to each parent for each child that is absent and should be paid within 21 days. If unpaid after 21 days the penalty notice will double to £120 . ( Education (Penalty Notices) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013.) Instructions on how to pay the penalty notice are contained within the notice itself and funds from these notices are paid directly to the local council.

My holiday is in 'exceptional circumstances' not just a family holiday! What do I do?

Please email the school office detailing your request for an authorised absence. 

 

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