Term Dates

Message from the Educational Welfare Officer regarding attendance
 
If the school refuses an absence request for your child and your child is taken out of school, this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.  If the school is unable to authorise the absence this may result in legal action being taken by Devon County Council, which could be a penalty notice or summons to court proceedings, which could result in a fine up to £2,500 and/or a term of imprisonment of up to 3 months.
 
Parents should note that in normal circumstances, current practice is that only one penalty notice will be issued to a parent relating to the absence of a particular child within a two year period.  Should a further period of unauthorised absence be recorded, then the parents(s) will normally be summonsed to appear at a Magistrates Court, unless an Education Supervision Order is considered more appropriate.