Family Holidays During Term Time

January 31, 2018 · by · in

We feel we need to make you aware of the authority guidelines with regard to taking your child out of school for holidays during term times.

 

Below is a quote from Midlothian Policy Guidelines on School Attendance which have now been uploaded onto our website.

 

 

“Family Holidays During Term Time

Schools will not normally give a family permission to take pupils out of school for holidays during term time.  This means that if your child is off school because you are away on holiday, the school will record this as an unauthorised absence.  It is up to education authorities to decide what sanctions they will use if there is an unauthorised absence.  There are some circumstances where permission might be given for a holiday during term time.  This would include when:

  • A family needs time together to recover from distress.
  • A family holiday is restricted to term time because of the parent’s job (for example a parent is in the armed services or emergency services).
  • There are other circumstances considered to be exceptional.

 

A family holiday classified under the ‘authorised absence’ category should not include such reasons as:

  • The availability of cheap holidays.
  • The availability of desired accommodation.
  • Poor weather experienced during school holidays.
  • Holidays which overlap the beginning and end of term.
  • Parental difficulty obtaining leave (with local judgement applied in cases where evidence is provided by the employer that it cannot accommodate leave during school holidays without serious consequences).”

 

 

The authority request that a letter is sent, in the first instance, to parents/carers if they take their child out of school during term time.

 

Thank you for your co-operation in this matter.