Term Time

Holidays during School Term Time

Holidays in term time can now only be authorised in the most exceptional circumstances.

Any request for leave must be made in writing to the Head teacher in advance .  There are leave of absence forms available in the school office or can be found below,  for parents to complete and we will then respond to your request promptly.

There is no formal definition offered for exceptional leave at present by the Department for Education.  However, from discussion with the DfE and professional associations it is suggested that exceptional leave would be:

• Rare
• Significant
• Unavoidable
• Short
  (NAHT, 2014)

Taking a child on holiday in term time interrupts the learning of the whole class as teachers have to spend time helping children catch up when they return. 

We ask that parents please arrange holidays during the 13 week school holiday periods.  Schools are open 190 days which leaves 175 days of the year for holidays.

We trust that you will support school in ensuring that term times are for education and this is our priority at Bryn Saint Peter’s.

Headteachers cannot authorise request for holidays in term time. Parents who do take children out of school may be fined by the local authority.

Please see our attendance policy for more detailed information.

Further information from Wigan Local Authority:

There is a new  national threshold of 10 unauthorised sessions (from Aug 2024) for any reason (equivalent to 5 school days) within a rolling 10 school week period for when a penalty notice must be considered.

The new rules mean you will no longer be able to take your child out of school for one week’s holiday without a penalty notice being issued.

There will be an increase in the penalty fine from £60 to £80 if paid in 21 days. If the fine is not paid by the first 21 days, it will rise to £160 if paid within 28 days of being issued.

If a second penalty fine is issued to the same parent for the same child within a 3-year rolling period, the fine will automatically rise to £160 with no option to pay the lower rate of £80.

If a parent then commits a third offence in a 3-year rolling period, the local authority will need to consider other enforcement options available to them.

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