Dear Parents and Carers.

In February 2024 the Governments Department for Education published a new national framework for penalty notices that will come into force from 19th August 2024.

In doing so, the Government have renewed appeals to parents not to take their children out of school during term time. Students will only be given permission to take leave in term time if there are exceptional circumstances. The Government state that ‘family holidays or leave in term time for leisure activities are not exceptional circumstances’.

As a school we are asked to inform you that, in line with the national framework for penalty notice’s, 10 sessions of unauthorised absence within 10 school rolling weeks may be subject to a Penalty Notice fine of £160 payable per parent, per child, which can be reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days, but only if it is the first Penalty Notice issued to you from 1st September 2024. If this fine is not paid within 28 days this may lead to Court proceedings which could ultimately result in a criminal record and a fine of up to £2500 and/or an alternative sentence which can include up to three months
imprisonment.

If any unauthorised absence results in a second Penalty Notice issued to you within three years of the date of the first one, (from 1st September 2024) a flat rate of £160 will apply. A third Penalty Notice will not be issued within a three-year rolling period. Therefore, alternative action or legal measures will be utilised when the criteria of 10 sessions of unauthorised absences in a 10- school week rolling period are met.

Our key priority is to ensure that children are as successful as possible and can achieve their full potential. I would hope that, upon reflection you are able to support this decision in line with the government and local authority policy that leave should be restricted to the 13 weeks school holidays except in exceptional circumstances.

Kind regards

Miss Evans

Headteacher