As you know, it is a legal requirement for all children to attend school, from the term after their fifth birthday. At St Saviour's, we have children attending from 2 years to 11 years.

If a child is absent for any reason, you must telephone the school office on the first day of absence; and for any subsequent days. For a longer term absence, a doctor's note may be requested. Dental and other medical appointments should be arranged, as far as possible, outside school hours. If an absence for these reasons is necessary or deemed unavoidable, parents must fill out a leave form giving evidence of this appointment. This can be done in person at the school office, or via email.

You will be aware that the Government is working to reduce the frequency of parents taking their children out of school, for holidays during term time. Our governing board and the Local Authority fully support this policy. A holiday or similar unauthorised leave during school time means that children miss key parts of their curriculum; and this can delay their progress. We have seen this happen all too often. Multiple term-time holidays can have a cummulatively negative impact on learning and progress.

To improve clarity for everyone, anyone requesting holidays during term-time will need to arrange a meeting with Mrs Baird, the Headteacher, before booking your holiday. Our policy states that we do not authorise holidays taken during term time.
 

There have been further recent changes to the law, and from September 2024, Local Authorities can issue a Fixed Penalty Notice to parents who take their children on an unauthorised holiday or similar absences in term time. The cost of these FPNs has risen, and is now £160, per parent, per child, reduced if paid within a given time frame. If parents fail to pay a penalty fine, further prosecution is to be expected.  This policy is now statutory and is applied in all schools.