Attendance and Term Dates

For a list of up to date term information, please see the PDF below.

For other term information, please go to the Leicestershire  County Council website.

Planned leave of absence needs to be authorised in advance by the Headteacher.  This will only be authorised for an exceptional reason, not for holidays. The Government do not expect holidays to be taken in term time due to the adverse impact absences have on your child’s progress and attainment. 

Please see our attendance policy.

Our attendance champion is the Headteacher.

If your child has unauthorised leave of absence you may either be issued with a Penalty Notice of £120 per parents per child (discounted to £60 if paid within 21 days) or, your case could be referred by the Local Authority directly to the Magistrates' Court for the purposes of a criminal prosecution.

Further information can be found in the Trust's Attendance Policy. 

At Sheepy Magna C of E Primary School, we recognise that central to raising standards in education and ensuring all pupils can fulfil their potential, pupils need to attend school regularly to benefit from their education. Missing out on lessons leaves children vulnerable to falling behind. Children with poor attendance tend to achieve less in both primary and secondary school.

Sheepy Magna Primary School agrees with the government in expecting schools and local authorities to:

 • promote good attendance and reduce absence, including persistent absence

• ensure every pupil has access to full-time education to which they are entitled

• act early to address patterns of absence

parents to:

• perform their legal duty by ensuring their children of compulsory school age who are registered at school attend regularly

all pupils:

• to be punctual to their lessons

Attendance is monitored in school on a daily basis. Our office staff record or lateness and absence form school and the reasons given. 

Family Holidays During Term-Time

Changes in government policy mean that holidays / time off during term time can no longer be granted, unless there are exceptional circumstances. Parental requests for term-time holidays should be made in writing, addressed to the Headteacher. For more information, please see the Local Authority website.

Taking a child out of school without permission, would be regarded as unauthorised absence. Parents who do do may be issued with a Penalty Notice by Leicestershire Local Authority: Education/Pupil Services Court Team.

I hope that you will support us in this matter, as we are all concerned to see children fulfil their potential at school. I am sure you will agree that this can best be achieved by avoiding unnecessary absence. Please read the parents guide below from the DfE.

https://www.woodlandwideweb.org.uk/_site/data/files/D54F72C1DC0B6F2012D7210B67CFF6C3.pdf

https://www.woodlandwideweb.org.uk/_site/data/files/372A4B7714E560D972B0CE148D7902D7.pdf