The Department for Education expects schools and local authorities to promote good attendance and reduce absences, including persistent absence. This is because we know that missing out on lessons leaves children/young people vulnerable to falling behind. 

As a school, we work hard to support all children/young people and their families so as to ensure that all children/young people have good attendance. I thank you for your support in this. A growing attendance issue however is families taking holidays in term time. I would like to remind you of the regulations.

“Headteachers may not grant any leave of absence for holidays during the term time unless there are exceptional circumstances; in these cases, it is the Headteacher who determines the number of days a child can be away from school if the leave is granted. Such leave can only be granted if attendance is already good. A second holiday in one year is unable to be authorised no matter what the circumstances.”

As a consequence of these changes, I will no longer be able to approve requests for leave of absence for reasons that are not considered to be special or exceptional.

Parents needing leave of absence for exceptional circumstances should write to school (info@bennerleyfields.derbyshire.sch.uk) at least two weeks before the anticipated start date. The reason for the request should be given in detail. Applications should be made before the leave is arranged as absences will not be granted retrospectively.

Thank you for your support and understanding.

Kind regards

Jenni Wright
Headteacher