Holidays during school term
You can't take your child out of school during term time. If you do, you could receive a penalty notice.
Holidays during the school term – the law
Once your child is registered at a school, the law says you must send them to school every day and on time.
The law changed in September 2013 and schools no longer have the freedom to allow parents to take their children out of school for up to ten days in term time. Only in exceptional circumstances can you write to the headteacher and ask to take your child out of school.
The head will consider any application carefully and look at:
- The reasons why you need to take your child out of school
- The effect on your child's education
- The number of days your child will be away
- Your child’s attendance record.
If he or she agrees, the head will tell you when your child must be back in school.
Penalty notices and fines
If you take your child out of school without permission, you may receive a penalty notice.
If you receive a penalty notice you will have to pay:
- £60 per parent for each child - if you pay within 21 days
- £120 per parent for each child - if you don't pay within 21 days, but do pay within 28 days.
If you don’t pay, you will be taken to court.