10 Things to Know About Term-Time Holidays in the UK

You can’t automatically take your children out of school for holidays since 2013 – headteachers only grant leave for “exceptional circumstances” like family emergencies or funerals, not cheaper flights. Unauthorised absences of five days trigger £80 fines per parent, doubling to £160 if unpaid. You’ll need written approval before booking anything, and schools require evidence supporting your request. Missing even one day impacts academic performance, so plan around official half-terms and check your local authority’s specific term dates first.

The Legal Framework Has Changed – No Automatic Right to Term-Time Holidays

If you’re planning a family holiday during school term time, you’ll need to understand that the legal landscape has shifted dramatically since 2013. Previously, headteachers could grant up to 10 days’ leave for family holidays in “special circumstances.” That automatic right no longer exists.

Now, you can only get approval for term-time holidays in “exceptional” circumstances. Simply wanting cheaper flights or avoiding crowds doesn’t qualify as exceptional. You must submit written requests in advance – retrospective approval after you’ve returned isn’t allowed.

Headteachers have limited discretion within strict statutory guidelines. The policy change reinforces that school attendance is mandatory, not optional.

Most family holidays will be marked as unauthorised absence, regardless of any educational benefits you might argue. Taking unauthorised leave can result in penalty fines starting at £80 if paid within 21 days.

What Qualifies as “Exceptional Circumstances” for School Absence

While schools have become stricter about term-time holidays, understanding what actually counts as “exceptional circumstances” can help you navigate the system more effectively.

These circumstances must be rare, significant, unavoidable, and short-term. Death of an immediate family member, attending funerals, housing crises preventing attendance, or immediate family weddings typically qualify. You’ll need proper evidence, like wedding invitations or GP letters if your child’s attendance falls below 95%.

What won’t work? Family holidays, even for work commitments, visiting ill relatives for extended periods, or trying to extend school breaks. Schools consider these avoidable since you’ve got 175 non-school days annually.

Each headteacher decides individually, weighing your child’s attendance record, timing, and the request’s genuine necessity. Remember that unauthorized absences can result in Fixed Penalty Notices starting at £80, which doubles to £160 if not paid within 21 days.

Penalty Notices and Fines: Understanding the Enforcement Process

Once your child’s unauthorised absence hits that 10-session threshold, the enforcement machinery kicks into gear with surprising speed. Schools have just 20 days to apply for a penalty notice after your holiday ends, so there’s no lengthy grace period.

You’ll face an £80 fine per child if you pay within 21 days, jumping to £160 if you delay. There’s no payment plan option – it’s full payment or nothing. Each parent gets hit separately, so two-parent households face double the cost. The payment window is strictly within 28 days, after which the penalty notice expires.

A second offence within three years starts at £160 with no discount. Push for a third strike? You’re heading straight to Magistrates’ Court, where fines can reach £2,500 and you’ll get a criminal record.

How to Check Term Dates and Plan Around Official School Holidays

Rather than risk those hefty penalties, smart planning starts with knowing exactly when your child’s school breaks up and returns. Your first stop should be your local council’s website, where you’ll find official term dates that vary markedly across regions.

Scotland starts earliest around mid-August, while England and Wales typically begin September 1st.

Don’t assume all schools follow identical calendars. Individual school websites publish exact dates, including those sneaky inset days when pupils stay home but it’s not officially a holiday. Contact your school directly if you’re unsure about specific dates.

Plan your family trips around standard half-terms: October, February, and May breaks typically last five days. Cross-reference multiple sources and always verify the exact return date to avoid that awkward situation where you’re still on holiday while everyone else is back in class. International schools may have slightly different holiday durations compared to standard state schools.

The Educational Impact of Missing School During Term Time

When you’re weighing up that tempting off-peak holiday deal, it’s worth understanding what research actually tells us about missing school time. The evidence reveals a clear pattern: every single day your child misses reduces their chances of achieving good GCSE results, including English and maths. Even one day off can hamper their life chances by lowering attainment across all subjects.

However, the picture isn’t entirely black and white. Some studies show children taking authorised holiday absences actually achieved slightly higher Key Stage 2 results than those with perfect attendance.

What’s certain is that longer absences cause more damage – while UK’s shorter summer holidays show minimal learning loss, extended breaks lead to significant skill deterioration in reading and writing comprehension. Research shows that summer learning loss particularly affects spelling skills, with children’s abilities declining over the break before recovering after several weeks of teaching.

Special Educational Needs Don’t Automatically Justify Term-Time Absence

Although your child has special educational needs, don’t assume this automatically grants you the right to take term-time holidays. SEN status doesn’t exempt your child from standard attendance rules or guarantee holiday approval from headteachers.

The same regulations apply equally to all students, regardless of their additional needs. Your child’s SEN won’t automatically justify term-time absence unless it creates specific exceptional circumstances.

However, you might have grounds under the Equality Act 2010 if standard holiday timing disadvantages your child due to their disability. For example, a child with autism experiencing severe anxiety in crowded holiday destinations might benefit from quieter off-peak periods.

Frame your request as a reasonable adjustment, providing supporting evidence from healthcare professionals explaining why term-time leave addresses your child’s specific needs. Remember that unauthorized absences can result in standardized fines of £80 within 21 days or £160 within 28 days, applied per parent, per child.

The 5-Day Rule: How Unauthorised Absences Add Up to Penalties

Beyond the immediate concern of getting your holiday request approved, you need to understand how quickly unauthorised absences can snowball into financial penalties.

England’s national threshold is surprisingly low: just 10 unauthorised sessions (5 school days) within a rolling 10-week period triggers mandatory penalty consideration.

Here’s what catches parents off-guard: these sessions don’t need to be consecutive holiday days. Your unauthorised long weekend (4 sessions) plus three late arrivals after registers close (3 sessions) plus three random unexplained absences (3 sessions) equals 10 sessions.

You’ve hit the threshold without taking a proper holiday.

Once you cross this line, you’re facing £80 fines per parent, per child—potentially £320 for two parents with two children. The penalties escalate quickly from there.

If you receive a second penalty notice within the same period, it’s fixed at £160 with no discount available for early payment.

Making a Formal Request: The Proper Process for Seeking Leave

Despite the strict penalties lurking in the background, you’re not powerless—but you must follow the correct procedure if you want any chance of approval.

First, you’ll need to complete your school’s designated leave of absence form. Don’t assume every school uses the same one—get theirs specifically. Submit this at least seven days before your planned departure, though earlier is better for school planning.

State your purpose clearly from the start and include exact dates, including when you’ll return. Crucially, retrospective approval is not possible, so don’t attempt to seek permission after you’ve already taken the leave.

Here’s the essential bit: you must outline exceptional circumstances that justify the leave. Simply wanting a family holiday won’t cut it.

The parent who ordinarily lives with the child must submit the request. Remember, you’re asking for permission, not informing them of your plans.

Local Authority Variations in Term Dates and Penalty Policies

Even if you successfully navigate the application process, there’s another layer of complexity that might catch you off guard: not all schools follow the same calendar. Local authorities set term dates only for community and voluntary-controlled schools, while academies and free schools can choose their own dates. This creates a patchwork of different schedules across England.

For example, autumn 2025 starts on September 1st in Kent and Cambridgeshire, but September 3rd in Bournemouth. Half-term weeks vary too – Kent’s October break runs October 20-24, while Cambridgeshire’s is October 27-31.

These differences affect penalty policies as well. Each local authority has its own approach to unauthorised absences, meaning identical situations could result in different consequences depending on where your child attends school. Plus, schools must allocate five inset days for staff training throughout the 195-day school year, which they can schedule at their discretion, adding another variable to term planning.

Practical Steps to Take Before Booking Any Term-Time Travel

Remember, there’s no automatic entitlement to term-time leave; it’s entirely the headteacher’s decision. Always request written permission before booking anything.

Submit your leave of absence form well in advance with supporting evidence, then wait for written approval before paying deposits. Schools require at least four weeks notice before your planned departure date.

Check the school calendar for exams, assessments, or key curriculum periods when absence will likely be refused, especially during SATs or GCSE periods.

The Sum Up

You’ve got all the essential info now to navigate term-time holidays without nasty surprises. Remember, schools aren’t being mean – they’re following strict legal guidelines they can’t ignore. Before you book that cheaper holiday, weigh up the real costs including potential fines and your child’s missed learning. When in doubt, speak directly with your school’s office. They’ll give you the clearest picture of what’s actually possible in your specific situation.