Attendance
Taking a child out of school in term time
Good attendance right from pre-school will give your child the best start in life and will help them to do well, be independent and successful. Making sure that children attend school regularly is also a parent's legal responsibility.
We like to recognise and praise any children who receive 100% attendance in an academic year by offering them a trip to a local bowling centre.
If your child will be absent from school for any reason please notify the School Office as soon as possible so that we can update your child's records. For any medical appointment, we would be grateful if you could supply a copy of the medical letter or appointment card.
Taking a child out of school in term time
To take your child out of school in term time you will need to apply to the school for a leave of absence.
You can obtain one of these from the school office or print Absence/Holiday leave request form
Holidays and absence leave requests will only be granted by the Headteacher in exceptional circumstances.
From September 2024 - If you take your child on holiday during term-time without the school's consent, a Penalty Notice will be issued to each parent/carer/person with day to day responsibility for each child.
Penalty Notices are requested from schools and issued by the Local Authority to the parents/carers of statutory school age children, and can be issued per parent, per child. For example: 3 siblings absent for leave of absence in term time could result in each parent/ carer receiving 3 separate fines at the below rates.
- First offence - The first time a Penalty Notice is issued the amount will be:
£80 per parent, per child paid within 21 days. This fine increases to £160 per parent, per child if paid after day 21, until day 28. - Second Offence (within 3 years) - the second time a Penalty Notice is issued the amount will be £160 per parent, per child paid within 28 days.
- Third Offence and Any Further Offences (within 3 years) - the third time an offence is committed a Penalty Notice will not be issued, and the case may be presented straight to the Magistrates’ Court under s.444 of the Education Act (1996) or other legal interventions considered. The Magistrates’ Court can order fines up to £2500 per parent, per child.
Failure to pay a Penalty Notice will render you liable to criminal proceedings in the Magistrates Court under Section 444 of the Education Act 1996.
For more information on school attendance and absence, you can click on the below link which will take you to the Barnsley Council Website
