Section 1.1 – Please complete the school leave-of-absence application form for term time.

Section 2.1 - Helping Parents Understand Penalty Notice Fines for School Attendance

All schools, by law, must follow the Department for Education’s statutory guidance relating to school attendance.  They must use the appropriate national attendance or absence code and follow the criteria set out within the guidance. 

The statutory guidance states:

1. A leave of absence must not be granted unless there are exceptional circumstances and must be requested in advance.


2. A leave of absence must be requested in advance by a parent with whom the pupil normally lives


3. Schools must judge each application individually, considering the specific facts and circumstances and relevant background context behind each request.


4. Where a leave of absence is granted, the school will determine the number of days a pupil can be absent from school.


5. A need or desire for a holiday or other absence for leisure and recreation would not constitute an exceptional circumstance.


6. A school cannot grant a leave of absence retrospectively. If the parent did not apply in advance, the leave of absence should not be granted.

Reason for the request, including why you believe your circumstances are exceptional.

Section 3.1 – Leave of Absence in Term Time

Taking your child out of school during term time could be detrimental to their educational progress. If the absence is not authorised and leave is taken, schools may refer the matter to the Local Authority for legal action.

Where parents/carers continue to take unauthorised leave of absence in term time, despite having previously been issued with a Penalty Notice, the local authority will consider prosecuting under S 444 of the Education Act 1996.

Section 3.2 – Penalty Notice Fines for School Attendance

Penalty fine thresholds and session amounts that can incur fines.

The threshold is 10 sessions (2 sessions per day, AM & PM, regular) of unauthorised absence over a rolling period of 10 school weeks. A school week is any week with at least one school session. The threshold may be met with any combination of the following unauthorised absence codes – i.e.,

G (unauthorised leave/holiday taken during term time),  

O (unauthorised absence)

U (arriving late after registers have closed)

The Penalty Notice is £60 per parent per child if paid within 21 days, and £120 if paid after 21 days but within 28 days.

Non-payment of a Penalty Notice will normally trigger a prosecution (under section 444 of the Education Act 1996 or under S103(3) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006). The prosecution can only be for the original offence, NOT for non-payment of the Penalty Notice.

Where a parent has been issued with a penalty notice on two or more occasions for the same child, further repeat offences of leave of absence may result in the local authority initiating direct prosecution proceedings under s. 444 (1) Education Act 1996 in lieu of a penalty notice. If found guilty of this offence, you will receive a criminal record and may be liable for a fine of up to £1,000. You also need to be aware that if your child fails to return to school after 20 days of absence, they are at risk of losing their school place. Please refer to our attendance policy via our school website (https://www.stmarys.net/attendance) for further information.