The Department for Education (DfE) has announced important news to legislation surrounding holidays in term time.
From September 2013, the new law gives no entitlement to parents to take their child on holiday during term time. Any application for leave must only be in exceptional circumstances. It is clear that Headteachers are not to be expected to class any term time holiday as exceptional. The reason for this change in legislation is that in 2011-2012, 9.7% of all absences in England were due to parents taking their children out of school during term time.
As a school, we fully appreciate the financial difficulties that some parents face when booking holidays, particularly during the school holidays. Nevertheless, there is a clear expectation from the DfE that all school have firm policies in this respect and that school policies will be subject to stringent checks.
At St. Mary’s, we are in a fortunate position – absence figures are low. This is due to the excellent support we receive from our parents who do not take their children out of school during term time. Nevertheless, we will apply the new legislation to the very small number of parents who do take their children out of school. In support of this, the Governing body has also taken the decision, from September to fine any parent who takes their children on holiday during term time.
