Term Dates

Amendments have been made to the 2006 regulations in the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013. These amendments, as described below, will come into force on 1 September 2013.

The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 currently allow Headteachers to grant leave of absence for the purpose of a family holiday during term time in “special circumstances” of up to ten school days leave per year. Headteachers can also grant extended leave for more than ten school days in exceptional circumstances.

Amendments to the 2006 regulations remove references to family holiday and extended leave as well as the statutory threshold of ten school days. The amendments make clear that headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. Headteachers should determine the number of school days a child can be away from school if the leave is granted.

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 444A(6), 444B(1), (2) and (4) and 569 of the Education Act 1996(1) and sections 105(5), 106(1), (2) and (4) and 181 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006(2).

These Regulations may be cited as the Education (Penalty Notices) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2024. These Regulations come into force on 19th August 2024.

The amount of the penalty to be paid under a penalty notice issued to a parent under section 444A(1) of the 1996 Act is as follows.

Where no penalty notice has been issued to the parent under section 444A(1) of the 1996 Act in respect of the same child in the preceding three-year period, the amount of the penalty is £80, where the amount is paid within the period of 21 days beginning with the date on which the notice is received; £160, Where a penalty notice has been issued to the parent under section 444A(1) of the 1996 Act in respect of the same child in the preceding three-year period, the amount of the penalty is £160.

“Preceding three-year period” means the period of three years ending with the date on which the penalty notice is issued.