The Department for Education (DfE) has announced important amendments to legislation surrounding holidays in term-time.
From the 1st September 2013, the change to the law does not give any entitlement to parents to take their child on holiday during term time. Any application for leave must be in exceptional circumstances and the Head teacher must be satisfied that the circumstances warrant the granting of the leave. Parents can be fined by the Local Authority for taking their children on holiday during term time without consent from the school.
As a local Authority, we fully appreciate the financial difficulties some parents may face when booking their holidays or visiting family abroad. However, we are expecting all schools in the borough to introduce firm policies and checks to ensure that there is a reduction in the number of absences during term time.
The LA will be monitoring all school absences during term time and will challenge those schools who do not follow the new legislation.
I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of Trafford Local Authority and your child’s school to thank you for your full support in this matter by not taking your child out of school during term time.
This new legislation will bring about increased attendance and therefore improved standards in our schools.