Term Dates
Leave of Absence Request Form
Important information about term-time leave and penalty notices
Please be aware of the national changes to penalty notices for school absence which came into force on 19 August 2024.
Newall Green Primary School follows the Department for Education (DfE) requirements and Manchester City Council's School Attendance Code of Conduct when considering requests for leave of absence during term time.
Leave of absence during term time
Newall Green Primary School considers all requests for leave of absence during term time very seriously.
Headteachers may only grant leave of absence during term time where there are exceptional circumstances. A request for a family holiday is not, in itself, considered an exceptional circumstance.
Regular attendance at school is important for children's education, attainment, wellbeing and future opportunities. We therefore strongly encourage parents and carers to ensure that their child attends school every day unless they are genuinely unable to do so.
If you are considering taking your child out of school during term time, you should submit a Leave of Absence Request Form to the Headteacher before making any arrangements or booking travel.
Authorisation is not automatic and each request will be considered on its individual circumstances.
Penalty notices for unauthorised absence
If your child is absent from school without authorisation, Manchester City Council may consider issuing a Penalty Notice.
A Penalty Notice may be considered when a child has 10 sessions (usually equivalent to 5 school days) of unauthorised absence within a rolling period of 10 school weeks.
The 10 sessions do not have to be consecutive and can be made up of different types of unauthorised absence.
The national threshold is a point at which a Penalty Notice must be considered; it does not mean that a Penalty Notice will automatically be issued in every case.
How much is the fine?
For a first Penalty Notice issued to a parent for a particular child:
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£80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days; or
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£160 per parent, per child if paid within 28 days.
If a second Penalty Notice is issued to the same parent for the same child within a rolling three-year period:
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the charge is £160 per parent, per child;
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there is no discounted rate for early payment; and
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the fine must be paid within 28 days.
Only two Penalty Notices can be issued to the same parent for the same child within a three-year rolling period.
If a third period of unauthorised absence meets the threshold within that three-year period, a further Penalty Notice cannot be issued. Manchester City Council may instead consider other legal action, which can include prosecution.
If a case is taken to court, a parent can be fined up to £2,500 if found guilty of failing to secure their child's regular attendance at school.
Important
A Penalty Notice may be considered where a child reaches the national threshold for unauthorised absence, including where the absence is due to an unauthorised holiday during term time.
Parents and carers should therefore:
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request permission before taking their child out of school during term time;
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wait for the school's decision before making arrangements;
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ensure that their child attends school regularly; and
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contact the school if there are circumstances affecting their child's attendance.
Taking your child out of school during term time without permission may result in a Penalty Notice being considered.
Further information
If you wish to discuss a request for leave of absence or have concerns about your child's attendance, please contact the School Office.
For further information about Manchester City Council's approach to school attendance and Penalty Notices, please visit the Manchester City Council website.
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