During the spring and summer terms we receive an increasing number of requests from parents for their children to be granted authorised absences for holidays in term time.  Unfortunately, we cannot give permission if these requests are not covered by the DfES (Government) guidelines. 

As a general rule, an authorised absence may be agreed provided parents cannot take their annual leave during the normal school holidays.  The guidelines also suggest that parents might be asked for letters from their employers to support absence requests.  There are occasions when exceptional circumstances need to be taken into consideration.  However, there are some obvious occasions when it isn’t appropriate for school to grant authorised absence; here are some examples:

• Multiple short holidays
• Long weekends
• To accompany grandparents, or other relatives on holiday
• To take an additional two week annual holiday outside school calendar
• To go to a sporting event

We hope parents will understand that we are not being awkward or uncooperative if a holiday request is refused.  We have to account for every holiday absence to the Local Education Authority education welfare officers; this also includes, if necessary, providing them with copies of parents letters.  Hence, it is important that letters requesting authorised absence do state clearly the qualifying reasons why they should be granted.

If not, unfortunately, they are likely to be refused.

To download a copy of the Holiday Request Form please right click here and select save as.