Reporting Absence
If your child is unable to attend school please contact the school’s absence line on 01206 545222 (option 1) by 8.30am on each day of your child’s absence. Please state clearly your child’s name, tutor group and reason for absence.
Requests for Leave of Absence
The current law does not give any entitlement to parents to take their child out of school during term time. The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 prohibits the Principal granting leave of absence to a pupil except where an application has been made in advance and the Principal considers that there are exceptional circumstances relating to the application.
If you do take your child out of school for this time, the absences will not be authorised and the Local Authority may issue a penalty notice to each parent of £60 for each child to be paid within 21 days. If the penalty is not paid within the time scale the penalty will increase to £120. If the higher penalty is not paid within 28 days, the Local Authority will then institute legal proceedings against you in the magistrate’s court under Section 444 of the Education Act 1996 for failing to ensure your child attends school regularly.
The school requires all parents to complete a ‘Leave of Absence’ application form and attach a letter outlining the ‘exceptional circumstances’ for which a leave of absence is being applied. Applications for exceptional holiday leave will be considered by the Principal ‘s delegated representative and the school’s Attendance Officer who will advise the applicant via the form whether the leave will be authorised or not. It may be necessary for the Attendance Officer to meet with a parent in these circumstances to ascertain the exceptional nature of the application.
Leave of absence for approved sporting activities and other educational opportunities will be considered as normal and should be applied for using the same form.
The Leave of Absence form and accompanying letter is to be handed in to Student Services or can be emailed to attendance@philipmorant.essex.sch.uk
We hope that you will continue to work with us to ensure your child/children receive the best opportunity to achieve the results of which they are capable.
Leave of Absence Application Form
