Are you thinking about taking your child out of school in term time?
All holidays in term time (now called leave of absence in exceptional circumstances or LOA) must be agreed by the head teacher/principal before the absence is taken.
Parents/carers do not have a right to take their children out of school during term time and may be fined if they do so without the school's authorisation.
Penalty notices, when issued, informs the parents/carers to pay a fine of £80 (if paid within 21 days) or £160 if paid within 28 days (from September 2024).
- Penalty Notices are issued separately to EACH individual parent/carer of each individually named child. (i.e. one Penalty Notice per parent per child)
Pay a school absence penalty notice
It is the head teacher's/principal's decision if an absence is to be authorised or not. They may request the Schools Attendance Support Service to consider issuing a penalty notice for any pupil with irregular school attendance.*
(*Supplements existing sanctions under Section 444 of the Education Act 1996 (as amended by Anti Social Behaviour Act 2003 and Section 36 of the Children Act 1989). Parents may be prosecuted for the original offence if the penalty is not paid.)
For more information: Legal Action to Enforce School Attendance (Penalty Notice)
Please see our school term dates page for school holiday dates.
School Absence Prosecutions Policy (2024)
Penalty Notice - Code of Conduct (June 2024)
Contact us
Please email us on:
attendance_service@sandwell.gov.uk
Please call us on:
0121 569 8147
At very busy times, you may hear our voicemail message. Please do leave your details and we will get back to you.
We are based at:
Schools Attendance Support Service
Sandwell Council House
Freeth Street
Oldbury
West Midlands
B69 3DE