Leave of Absence/Attendance
Attendance at Burnside Primary School
At Burnside Primary School, excellent attendance is one of our absolute priorities. We believe that regular, punctual school attendance is the foundation of successful learning and a core part of living our school motto: Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Kind.
By being at school every day, our children are being Smart by making the most of daily learning opportunities, building emotional resilience, and unlocking their full potential. They are being Safe and Kind by developing strong friendships, growing in confidence, and making a positive contribution to our vibrant school community.
Working Together to Improve School Attendance
We never want any child to be disadvantaged by poor attendance. That is why we view attendance as a shared partnership between parents, staff, and pupils.
Our approach is supportive and proactive. We work closely with families to identify the root causes behind any attendance concerns as early as possible. Together, our goal is to resolve any underlying difficulties, remove barriers, and provide appropriate support where needed to ensure every child can thrive.
Statutory Government Policy: Term-Time Leave and Fines
In line with the Department for Education’s (DfE) statutory guidance, Working Together to Improve School Attendance, headteachers are strictly prohibited from granting any leave of absence during term time unless there are highly exceptional circumstances.
The government operates a strict National Framework for Penalty Notices (fines) for unauthorised absences, including family holidays taken during term time. This framework ensures that attendance rules are applied consistently across all schools in England.
The National Penalty Notice Framework
If a child has 10 or more sessions (equivalent to 5 school days) of unauthorised absence within a rolling period of 10 school weeks, the local authority will be notified, and a Penalty Notice may be issued to each parent for each child.
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First Offence: The fine is £160 per parent, per child. This is reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days.
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Second Offence (Within 3 Years): If a second unauthorised term-time leave occurs within a rolling 3-year period, the fine is a flat £160 per parent, per child, with no reduction for early payment.
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Third Offence (Within 3 Years): A third offence within a 3-year period cannot be handled via a penalty notice. Instead, the case is automatically considered for alternative legal measures, which can include direct prosecution in the Magistrates' Court under the Education Act 1996.
Unauthorised absences disrupt your child’s educational momentum and create gaps in their learning that can be difficult to bridge. We strongly urge all families to plan holidays exclusively during the standard school holiday periods.
Leave of Absence Requests
If you face an exceptional circumstance that requires your child to miss school, you must submit a formal request in advance.
Please note that financial savings, family celebrations, or overlapping holiday dates do not constitute exceptional circumstances under DfE guidelines.