LUCKWELL PRIMARY SCHOOL

LEAVE OF ABSENCE FORM – updated for 2015

At Luckwell we strongly believe that the best place for your child during school time

is at school, and we will work to make sure your child’s attendance is as high as

possible. The law also requires that all children of school age attend, and leave is not

a parental right.

Since September 2013 government legislation has removed the discretionary allocation of 10 leave days in the school year, and the guidance is very clear that leave will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. Consequently there is a strong possibility that your request may not be authorised by the school.

Exceptional circumstances might include, but are not limited to:

•Family illness, funerals or recent significant trauma

•Family weddings

•Jobs where there is no flexibility over leave, for example for the emergency services.

In October 2014 the National Association of Head Teachers suggested a workable definition of

“exceptional” as rare, significant, unavoidable and short. We will use this definition when making our

decision.

If agreement for leave is given, ‘C’ will be shown on your child’s register. This is our code for authorised leave.

If you take your child out of school without permission being granted, this will count as an ‘unauthorised absence’ and will show a ‘G’ on their register, andcontinued unauthorised absence can lead to a penalty notice being issued.

In order to request leave, you will need to fill in the sheet overleaf and return to the school office. This can be done as a paper copy or electronically and must be submitted not less than 10 days before the commencement of the leave period.

Please complete the information below:

In submitting this form I acknowledge that I have read and understood the above information.

I request you authorise a leave of absence from school for

PARENT / OFFICE / HEAD
Name / Class / From / Until / No. of school days missed / Current Attendance / Days of leave already taken / Leave agreed?

Reason for leave:

Signature of parent / carer ......

Head’s comments
If you would like to discuss the above decision please contact Mr Jones at the school