Attendance and School Forms
New arrangements from September 2024
School attendance and absence
Overview
The Department for Education (DfE) states that you must make sure your child gets a full-time education that meets their needs (for example if they have special educational needs).
Children must get an education between the school term after their 5th birthday and the last Friday in June in the school year they turn 16.
You’ll be contacted by either:
- the school - if your child is enrolled in school and does not turn up (even if they’re only absent for a day)
- the council’s education welfare officer - if they think your child is not getting a suitable education at home
You can be prosecuted if you do not give your child an education. You’ll normally get warnings and offers of help from the local council first.
In September 2013 the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 came into force. These regulations make it clear that Headteachers should not grant approval for any leave of absence during term-time, including holidays, unless there are exceptional circumstances. These regulations also state that holidays cannot be authorised retrospectively.
Any requests should be on an official school absence request form and handed into the school office for consideration prior to any holiday/leave arrangements being made.
You may be issued with a Penalty Notice should leave be taken which is not authorised. If unpaid this could lead to prosecution under section 444(1) of The Education Act 1996.
Further information about Derbyshire County Council's attendance guidance can be found here:
School attendance - Derbyshire County Council
When your child can miss school
You can only allow your child to miss school if either:
- they’re too ill to go in
- you’ve got advance permission from the school
There’s extra support available if your child cannot go to school for long periods because of a health problem.
Holidays in term time
You have to get permission from the head teacher if you want to take your child out of school during term time.
You can only do this if:
- you make an application to the head teacher in advance (as a parent the child normally lives with)
- there are exceptional circumstances
It’s up to the head teacher how many days your child can be away from school if leave is granted.
You can be fined for taking your child on holiday during term time without the school’s permission.
Government guidance can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/school-attendance-absence
https://www.gov.uk/school-attendance-absence/legal-action-to-enforce-school-attendance
School trips
Your child’s school can ask you for a voluntary contribution to the cost of activities like school trips. They cannot stop your child from attending if you do not pay, but they should cancel the activity if there is not enough money to cover the cost of it.
If you need to request exceptional leave or need a member of staff to administer medication to your child then the forms can be downloaded below and emailed or brought into school.
If you wish to email them into school then please send them to admin@parkhouse.derbyshire.sch.uk
