Attendance and holidays in term time

Please click here for our attendance policy

Regular school attendance - why it's so important

Going to school regularly is important to your child’s future. For example, children who miss school frequently can fall behind with their learning and make less progress than they are capable of. Research suggests that children who attend school regularly could also be at less risk of getting involved in antisocial behaviour or crime.

School attendance and absence: the law

By law, all children of compulsory school age (5 to 16) must receive a suitable full-time education. For most parents, this means registering their child at a school - though some choose to make other arrangements to provide a suitable, full-time education. Once your child is registered at a school, you are legally responsible for making sure they attend regularly. If your child fails to do so, you risk getting a penalty notice or being prosecuted.

Preventing your child from missing school: what you can do you can help your child by:

making sure they understand the importance of good attendance and punctuality
taking an interest in their education - ask about school work and encourage them to get involved in school activities
discussing any problems they may have at school - inform their teacher or headteacher about anything serious
not letting them take time off school for minor ailments - particularly those which would not prevent you from going to work

Arranging appointments and outings after school hours, at weekends or during school holidays will help to prevent disruption to your child’s education and to the school. Under normal circumstances, you should not expect the school to agree to your child going on holiday during term time.

Support from the school

School is the first place to go to discuss any attendance problems. A member of the school’s leadership team will meet you to discuss any problems or issues you may have and where necessary will agree a plan with you to improve your child’s attendance.

Authorised absences from school

Any time you are planning to take your child out of school during term time, you need to ask the school headteacher to give permission for you to do so. Absence will only be authorised in exceptional circumstances. These are some examples:

Family bereavement or funeral
Wedding of a close/direct family member

Warden Park Primar Academy Trust Policy is in line with government guidelines to not authorise holidays during term time. If you do not ask the headteacher’s permission, or they do not give it and you take your child out of school anyway, this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence. Examples of unauthorised absences are:

Family holidays
Shopping trips
Waiting in for a delivery
Family birthdays
Visits from relatives
Not having the correct school uniform

Holidays during term time - what the law says

You should not normally take your child on holiday in term time - it can be disruptive both to your child's learning and to the school. For this reason, at Warden Park Primary Academy, all holiday absences during term time will be deemed unauthorised.
Parents often assume that they are automatically allowed to take their child out of school (especially during the last weeks of term) for a pre-booked family holiday. This isn't true.

Penalty notices for unauthorised absence

From 19th August 2024 a new National Framework for Penalty Notices came into force for Penalty Notice Fines. The first time a Penalty Notice is issued for Term Time leave or irregular attendance the amount will be:

£160 per parent, per child paid within 28 days - reduced to £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days.

The second time a Penalty Notice is issued for Term Time leave or irregular attendance the amount will be:

£160 per parent, per child paid within 28 days

Penalty Notice Fines will be considered when there are 10 sessions (5 days) of unauthorised absence in a 10 week period.

Furhter information on Fixed Penalty Notices can be via the West Sussex FPN notice

Our school easy reference guide to the new Penalty Notice rules may also be useful

If you have a reason to withdraw your child from school during term time complete this form and either hand to the school office or email to office@wardenparkprimary.co.uk

Paper copies are available from the school office