The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 set out the circumstances under which a child may be absent from school.

The relevant extract states:

“7.—(1) Leave of absence may only be granted by a person authorised in that behalf by the proprietor of the school.

(1A)Subject to paragraph (2), leave of absence shall not be granted unless—

(a) an application has been made in advance to the proprietor by a parent with whom the pupil normally resides; and

(b) the proprietor, or a person authorised by the proprietor in accordance with paragraph (1), considers that leave of absence should be granted due to the exceptional circumstances relating to that application.

(2) Leave of absence shall not be granted to enable a pupil to undertake employment (whether paid or unpaid) during school hours except—

(a)employment for the purpose of taking part in a performance within the meaning of section 37 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1963(1) under the authority of a licence granted by the local authority under that section; or

(b)employment abroad for the purpose mentioned in section 25 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933(2) where a licence has been granted under that section by a justice of the peace.”

Please note – the amendment of 2013 removed the headteachers’ discretion to authorise requests for holidays during term time.