Family holidays and extended leave. Parents/carers should ensure that family holidays and special leave are arranged outside of school term time. Parents/carers do not have the automatic right to remove their child from school during term time for this reason. Requests for leave from school must be made in writing to the co-headteachers three weeks in advance of the leave being taken. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, such as a family bereavement that requires the child to travel to another country, this will be taken into consideration. The Co-Headteachers will consider all applications for special leave. When deciding whether to authorise absence, the committee will take the special circumstances into account. Examples of these might be: • Medical care, including treatment abroad • Overseas respite All requests for authorised absence will be responded to in writing, and will, if appropriate, outline the details of when the child is expected to return to school. Parents/carers should contact the school immediately if there will be a cause for delay from the stated date of return. If permission is not granted, but the child is still absent, the absence is classed as unauthorised and parents/carers may be issued with a penalty notice.
