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Holidays during term-time and authorised absence from school

As a parent or carer, you have a legal responsibility to make sure your child attends school regularly. Find out more about the rules around term-time absences.

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Can I take my child out of school for a family holiday?

No. Headteachers cannot and will not authorise school (or other educational establishment) absence solely for the reason of a family holiday.

If you feel you have an exceptional circumstance, you must speak to your headteacher before making any arrangements or taking any absence.

Parents are legally responsible for ensuring their children receive education in accordance with section 7 of the Education Act 1996 and, if on a school roll, that they attend regularly.

There is, however, a discretionary power held by headteachers to authorise absence in exceptional circumstances.

Please note: this is not an entitlement and a family holiday is not an exceptional circumstance.

The headteacher will only authorise absence in line with the East Riding Behaviour and Attendance Partnership ‘Absence From School For Exceptional Circumstances Policy’. Headteachers will not authorise absences if they believe it is to the detriment of a child’s education.

Please note: supporting documents to assist with decision making must be submitted at the time of your request for absence.

Please note: we advise that you do not plan for your child to be absent from school without gaining prior agreement from their school first. Headteachers cannot retrospectively authorise absence from school under any circumstances.

If your request is authorised, you are required to make sure that your child catches up on any missed school work. This is your responsibility and school are not obliged to provide work for your child to complete.

Any unauthorised absence will be recorded on your child’s attendance records. This may result in legal proceedings against you, either through a Penalty Notice or through the Magistrates’ Court.

How do I request authorisation from the headteacher to take my child out of school?

To get authorisation for you to remove your child from school, you will need to fill in a request form and return it to the school for the attention of the headteacher. This form requires completing with details of both parents/carers and is must be signed by both parties.

The headteacher then has to make a decision based on the information provided in the authorisation form, in addition to the evidence you have provided.

New ASEC Form template (word 64kb)

Please note: we advise that you do not plan for your child to be absent from school without gaining prior agreement from their school first. Headteachers cannot retrospectively authorise absence from school under any circumstances.

What evidence is needed?

The evidence you will need to provide depends on what type of absence from school you are applying for.

For example, a wedding abroad may require supporting evidence such as:

  • proof of travel arrangements
  • details of accommodation reservations
  • invitations.

The evidence you will be required to provide will be specifically asked for by the school. If you are unable to provide evidence, then the request will be refused.

What is absence from school for exceptional circumstances?

In order for consideration to be given, requests for absence must be for exceptional circumstances only.

The Primary Behaviour and Attendance Partnership, the Secondary Twilight Partnership and the council agree to follow the law, which states that the provision for Headteachers to authorise absence solely for the purpose of a family holiday is not considered an exceptional circumstance.

Exceptional circumstances could include:

  • service personnel returning from a tour of duty abroad, where evidence is provided that the individual will not be in receipt of any leave in the near future over school holidays
  • where an absence from school is recommended by a health professional as part of a parent or child’s rehabilitation from a medical or emotional issue
  • the death or terminal illness of a person close to the family
  • to attend a wedding or funeral of a person close to the family.

Please note: Evidence would be required in each case.

If a request meets the above exceptional circumstances, but falls within the following times of the school year, the headteacher must be convinced that absence from school is the only option:

  • The first half-term of any academic year (applies to all pupils)
  • year six transition day (for pupils in Year 6)
  • year six SATs week (for pupils in Year 6)
  • year nine options time (for pupils in Year 9)
  • at any time during Years 10 and 11 (for all pupils in these year groups)
  • at any time specified by the school (this will be communicated to parents by each school).

What are the penalties for unauthorised absence or poor attendance?

Under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act (2003), the local authority and schools have statutory powers to tackle poor school attendance and/or unauthorised absences.

An unauthorised absence is any absence that the headteacher has not given permission for, or where an explanation has not been provided by the parent. If your child accrues 10 sessions of unauthorised absence, you may be liable for a penalty notice. One day of absence equals two sessions, and a five-day absence is equal to 10 sessions, and so on. These absences on a child’s attendance certificate are marked as U, O and G.

Penalty notices

A new National Framework for penalty notices came into effect on 19 August 2024. This framework includes an escalation process, as a further deterrent to prevent a pattern of unauthorised absences developing.

If you are issued with a fine, this will be sent to you direct by post, or by email address if this is known. You may possibly be issued a warning, or in the case of absences without acceptable cause, warnings may not be given.

This includes:

  • pupils caught on truancy sweeps
  • persistent late arrival after the close of registration
  • unauthorised absence that has not been authorised as an absence from school for exceptional circumstances.

In these cases, the warning is given on the absence request form and detailed within the information leaflet that is attached, and no further written warning will be given.

Fines are issued for unauthorised absence of five or more days, and each school day is divided into two registration periods. For example, if your child is absent for one day, this equals two sessions and a five-day absence is equal to ten sessions.

If you ignore a declined request

If your request is declined, and you still take your child out of school, each parent within your household will be issued with a £160 penalty notice for each child you have taken out of school.

If a penalty notice is paid within 21 days, it will decrease to £80. If after 28 days this fine remains unpaid, then consideration will be given in respect to further legal action, which could result in you being summonsed to appear before Magistrates to explain why your child has unauthorised school absences. You may also be liable for a fine of up to £1000.

Support and guidance on attendance is always available, and if you have any questions or need help to achieve an improvement in attendance, then please contact your child’s school to discuss this.

Please note: we advise that you do not plan for your child to be absent from school without gaining prior agreement from their school first. Headteachers cannot retrospectively authorise absence from school under any circumstances.

Five consecutive days of term-time leave

Penalty Notice fines will be issued for term-time leave of five or more consecutive days. Inset training days are considered school days and can be included in the five or more consecutive days where there was intent to be absent for term- time leave.

Ten sessions of unauthorised absence in a ten week period

Penalty Notice fines will be considered when there has been ten sessions of unauthorised absence in a ten week period.

Per Parent Per Child

Penalty Notice fines will now be issued to each parent for each child that was absent.

For example, three siblings absent for term-time leave would result in each parent receiving three separate fines.

First offence

The first time a Penalty Notice is issued for term-time leave or irregular attendance, the amount will be £160 per parent per child, to be paid within 28 days. This will be reduced to £80 per parent per child if paid within 21 days.

Second offence (within three years)

The second time a Penalty Notice is issued for term-time leave or irregular attendance, the amount will be £160 per parent per child, to be paid within 28 days.

Third offence and any further offences (within three years)

The third time an offence is committed for term-time leave or irregular attendance, a Penalty Notice will not be issued and the case with be presented straight to the Magistrates’ Court. Magistrates’ fines can be up to £2500 per parent per child. Cases found guilty in Magistrates’ Court can show on the parent’s future DBS certificate due to the ‘failure to safeguard a child’s education’.

Please note: Penalty Notices are issued to change behaviour and considered on a case-by-case basis.

For more information, please visit:

Attendance in school (eastriding.gov.uk)

GOV.UK - Working together to improve school attendance (external website)

What can I do if I am having difficulty getting my child to attend school?

Your child’s school are best placed to support you with any issues that you are experiencing. It is very important that you speak with the school as soon as possible to resolve any identified issues. Schools are very well equipped and experienced in supporting pupils that are struggling to maintain good attendance, and can provide advice, support and strategies to assist you.

If the school feels that the issue has escalated, they are able to undertake a referral to Early Help.

If it is felt necessary, the school may then contact the Education Welfare Service or suggest that you contact them at the earliest opportunity if you are having ongoing difficulties improving your child's attendance.

The school and the Education Welfare Service will give you advice and support to help you fulfil your responsibility to improve your child's attendance.

Education Welfare Service
County Hall
Beverley
East Riding of Yorkshire
HU17 9BA.

Tel: (01482) 394000 option 2
Email: education.welfare@eastriding.gov.uk

Who should I notify if my child needs to be absent from school?

If a child is absent from school, parents must contact the school as early as possible on the first day of absence. You should provide full reasons for why your child is absent and avoid using the term ‘ill’. You should update the school if your child remains absent after three days. At this stage you may be asked to provide evidence to support the absence, such as a GP's letter.

On your child's return to school always send a signed note which should be dated and give the reason for absence.

Any absence can disrupt your child's education so children must not be kept away from school for reasons such as:

  • unnecessary medical issues such as headlice, headaches, toothache
  • looking after relatives or siblings
  • birthdays
  • house minding
  • visiting relatives
  • long weekends
  • shopping trips
  • and taking family holidays without the agreement of the headteacher.

Although you may provide a reason for absence, the school legally has the right to not authorise it until clear evidence is produced. This includes absence due to medical reasons.

Legally, only a headteacher can authorise or unauthorise an absence from school and it is a parent or carers' responsibility to prove a child was not able to attend. Good attendance is deemed as being 'attending school every day the headteacher prescribes the school to be open'.

How can I contact the headteacher of the school?

Contact details for all schools (and other educational establishments) in the East Riding can be found by using the East Riding Nursery and School Finder, available via the button below:

East Riding School and Nursery Finder

What support is available for pregnant schoolgirls and teenage parents?

Pregnant schoolgirls and teenage parents are encouraged to remain at school for as long as they can, and tuition is provided during statutory maternity leave. Once a tutor has been allocated, tuition takes place at home and pupils continue to work as per their year group curriculum or towards their GCSE examinations.

Young mothers are expected to return to school once they are fit to do so. Attendance can be tailored to fit individual circumstances and, for most pupils, will involve a reintegration to school to allow both mother and baby to adjust.

Schools are asked to undertake an assessment of need and risk, and act as a link with the tuition service.

Parents of girls who require support are asked to contact the service via the school where they are enrolled.

Support may also be available for school-age fathers, and we recommend that you speak to your school in the first instance.

Do you have the answers to any frequently-asked questions?

Yes. Please download the FAQ sheet via the link below:

Penalty Notices and Absence from School for Exceptional Circumstances (ASEC) FAQs 2025 (pdf 197kb)

Code of Conduct for Education Penalty Notices - September 2024 (pdf 201kb)

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