Very occasionally there are genuine mitigating circumstances like families of military personnel unable to take time off prior to postings overseas or those who work for rail or airline companies companies who may insist on holidays being taken at specific times. In these circumstances authorisation for term time holidays will only be given upon evidence from the employer that the dates requested are fixed.
Any absence that is recorded as unauthorised will be reported the Education Welfare Service and the family taking term time holiday may be subject to a £50 penalty charge for each child absent from school.
Children who have avoidable absence during term time may experience particular problems such as:
Disadvantages if close to exams or tests,Settling in problems during the first year at a new school, especially at a period of transition from Year 6 primary to Year 7 secondary
Children who need help in certain subjects need to access all the educational support that is offeredSome children may find it difficult to renew friendships with their classmates when they return to school
Your child may miss out on valuable group work with classmates that cannot be repeatedIt could embarrass and lower your child’s self-esteem to have to ask for help to catch up in each lesson
It could be disruptive for other students in lessons, when your child needs extra help to catch up
Please consider the unspoken message you are giving your child, by letting them think it is acceptable to miss school. Some young people with severe truancy problems started when they had a week or two off school for a holiday
