Requesting a leave of absence in term time
Schools can only allow leave of absence in exceptional circumstances. Requests must be made in advance by a parent the child normally lives with. Each request is considered individually, based on the facts and background.
If leave is approved, the school decides how long the child can be away. The Department for Education does not see holidays or leisure trips as exceptional circumstances. So, time off for a holiday is very unlikely to be approved.
If a parent does not request leave and the school suspects the child has been taken on holiday, the school will send a letter to the parent.
