To Ski, or not to Ski: that is the question...
The School has recently distributed guidelines regarding taking a child out of school during term time, so here they are in case you missed them in the book bags, along with a link to some background information that explains the legal obligations that Local Authorities, Schools and Parents must operate under.
Now, where did I put that great big, heavy, link? Ah, here it is... School attendance and truancy: the law
And here are Lee Common School's guidelines as issued:
- All children are required by law to attend school every day during term time. There is no 'entitlement' to any time off during the term time.
- Only schools are allowed to authorise any absence.
- Permission cannot be granted for more than ten school days in any one year.
- The school may authorise any reasonable request for absence, especially those on compassionate grounds.
- The school cannot normally authorise single day absences, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
- All absence requests should be made at least one month in advance using the request form available from the school office. This should be accompanied by a covering letter addressed to the Head teacher.
Of course, one could make a radical bid for freedom from location ties and opt for home schooling. If that feels too steep a slippery slope, this article from the BBC shows term-time holidays under review back in 2005. Clearly, the Government felt then that parents were taking the piste a little too often...
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