Term-time holiday guidance

Detailed guidance on handling requests for term-time holidays has been issued by the National Association of Head Teachers. The document seeks to clarify for school leaders what constitutes “exceptional circumstances" for granting absence during term time.

General secretary Russell Hobby said: “Headteachers already have discretion over the granting of absence during term time. They rightly prioritise learning over holidays. Headteachers are able to – and do – authorise absence in exceptional circumstances.

“The fundamental principles for defining 'exceptional' are where requests are rare, significant, unavoidable and short. We believe that these new guidelines support existing government policy on school absence. They will give headteachers and parents a consistent and reasonable definition of 'exceptional'. This will help with making individual decisions about granting authorised absence in term time."