At Upton Heath we pride ourselves in having an excellent attendance record.  The government discourages the taking of holidays in term time.  Our EiP policy states that ‘absence due to holiday which does not meet the exceptional circumstances criteria will not be authorised.’ Evidence shows that children who miss school do not achieve as well as those who attend regularly.

Should you choose to take a holiday with your child during term time, a Fixed Penalty Notice will be requested by the school nominated person on your child’s return to school. The notice will then be issued to you (and husband/wife/partner) by the local authority in accordance of section 44 of the Education Act 1996.

The first penalty notice issued to the parent for that pupil will be charged at £160 if paid within 28 days reducing to £80 if paid within 21 days. Where it is deemed appropriate to issue a second penalty notice to the same parent for the same pupil within 3 years of the first notice, the second notice is charged at a flat rate of £160 if paid within 28 days. This charge is per parent/carer per child.  If the fixed penalty notice remains unpaid this could lead to prosecution in the magistrate’s court.

Exceptional circumstances for absence from school:

The following are all at the principal’s discretion:

–  The parent has leave from the armed forces (services).
–  Family crisis (e.g. adoption; bereavement; additional medical needs).
–  Religious observance by the religious body to which the parents belong.
–  Participation in a supervised sporting activity approved by the school.
–  Non routine medical or dental appointments (routine appointments to be made outside of school hours).
–  Modelling or special stage performances (as long as it can be proved that the education of the child does not suffer).
–  Examinations.