School attendance guidance

In accordance with the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024, head teachers may no longer grant pupils any leave of absence during term-time unless there are ‘exceptional circumstances’ relating to the request, and parents or carers have made an application in advance.

• Leave of absence is granted entirely at the Head teacher’s discretion and is not a parental right.
• Headteachers cannot grant any leave of absence during term-time unless there are exceptional circumstances surrounding the application and an application has been made by parents or carers in advance.
• Schools are not allowed to grant retrospective approval and if parents did not apply for leave of absence in advance, the absence must be recorded as unauthorised.
• If you are considering asking permission for your child to be granted leave of absence from school, please think very carefully. Missing out on lessons will always have a negative impact on your child’s educational progress.
• All schools within Blackburn with Darwen are committed to working with parents and carers to provide the best educational opportunities for all pupils. It is widely understood that children make the best progress through regular and punctual school attendance.
• When a child is absent from school, valuable teaching and learning time is lost and it is often very difficult to make up for gaps in individual pupils’ learning.

If a head teacher is satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances to warrant the granting of leave of absence, the head teacher will then determine the number of school days that can be authorised.

Parents and carers are liable to be issued with a penalty notice (one penalty per parent, per child) in respect of their children’s unauthorised leave of absence from school.

Requesting term time leave

If you decide to proceed with a request for term time leave, you should first contact your child’s school to arrange a meeting. This will give you an early opportunity to discuss your plans request an application form for a leave of absence. Please remember to do this well in advance and you are strongly advised not to book a holiday without first completing an application form and getting prior approval from school.

Always give a date when your child will be returning to school. If leave is granted, but your child does not return within 10 school days of the agreed date, the Head teacher may make a Child Missing Education referral to us. It is important to keep in contact with your child's school if there is any change to your expected return date.

Your child’s head teacher will confirm in writing to you whether or not your request has been successful and, in cases where leave is approved, the number of days off school that have been agreed.

For more information please contact us: education.welfare@blackburn.gov.uk