Leave of Absence Form

Parent and carer responsibilities

Your legal responsibility as a parent or carer is to ensure that your child or children of school age receive a suitable full-time education, by either enrolling your child or children at a school or by making other arrangements such as elective home education.

Once enrolled at a school, it remains the parent or carer's legal responsibility to ensure that their child attends school regularly and arrives on time each day.

Parents and carers are encouraged to maintain good attendance by:

  • making sure they and their child understand the importance of school attendance and punctuality and know what the school rules are

  • talking to the school to discuss what support is available if your child has any issues which could affect attendance levels

  • avoiding making appointments during the school day, and if this is unavoidable, provide evidence (where possible) that an appointment was attended - this will enable the school to authorise the absence

  • not taking holidays during school term-time

If you're a parent of a child of statutory school age (between 5 and 16 years) who is registered at a school you are responsible for making sure they attend school regularly.

Why attendance matters

Attending school on a regular basis is the key to your child doing well at school and will set them up with good routines for later life and the working world, as well as giving them the opportunity to:

  • make new friends and feel included

  • learn new things and develop skills

  • increase their confidence and self-esteem

  • improve social skills

  • achieve their potential and fulfil aspirations

Every school day counts

Every single day a child is absent from school equates to a day of lost learning.

Attendance, absence and days of learning missedAbsence and days of learning missed100% attendanceNo days missed95% attendance9 days of absence, 1 week and 4 days of learning missed90% attendance19 days of absence, 3 weeks and 4 days of learning missed85% attendance28 days of absence, 5 weeks and 3 days of learning missed

Attendance

Absence and days of learning missed

100% attendance

No days missed

95% attendance

9 days of absence, 1 week and 4 days of learning missed

90% attendance

19 days of absence, 3 weeks and 4 days of learning missed

85% attendance

28 days of absence, 5 weeks and 3 days of learning missed

In accordance with pupil registration regulations, headteachers must not grant approval for any leave of absence during term time, including holidays, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

For more information click this link to visit the Derbyshire County Council School attendance page.

DCC school attendance