Requests for absence from school in exceptional circumstances and Penalty Notices.

You are required under the Education Act (1996) to ensure your child attends school regularly.  If your child accrues 10 sessions of unauthorised absence you may be liable for a penalty notice (1 day equals 2 sessions and a 5 day absence is equal to 10 sessions).

An unauthorised absence is any absence that the Head teacher has not given permission for or where an explanation has not been provided by the parents.

If you are thinking of taking your child out of school parents must complete a Request for Absence in Exceptional Circumstances Form.  You must allow sufficient time to enable the school to consider the request and inform parents of the decision.

Where parents do not follow the school's procedure of submitting a request and simply remove their child without seeking prior approval, a warning may not be given and you may be liable for a penalty notice.

Exceptional circumstances could include:

• Service personnel returning from a tour of duty abroad, where it is evidenced the
  individual will not be in receipt of any leave in the near future that coincides with
  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

Newbald Primary follows the Local Authority policy for holidays in term time and the school has a duty to refer any cases which may be applicable for a penalty notice to educational welfare.  Please note that Inset training days are school days and can be included in the 5 or more consecutive days where there was intent to be absent for term-time leave. Penalty Notice Fines will be considered when there has been 10 sessions of unauthorised absence in a 10 week period. It should be noted that Newbald Primary School does not allocate any penalty notices nor does it receive any finance from them

Please note: Evidence would be required in each case.

If your request is declined or you do not follow the correct procedure and you still take your child out of school each parent within your household may be issued with a £80.00 penalty notice for each child you have taken out of school.  If a penalty notice remains unpaid after 21 days it will increase to £160.00.  

Full details about authorising absence from school can be found on the East Riding Council Website:

ERYC - Holidays During Term Time

The Attendance and Absence Policy can be read from the document link shown. 

Should you need to complete a request form you can download one below: 

	Attendance & Absence Policy 2026	[pdf 340KB]
	New Absence from School for Exceptional Circumstance request form including information to parents - from 19 August 2024	[pdf 391KB]
	New Absence from School for Exceptional Circumstance request form including information to parents - from 19 August 2024	[docx 66KB]