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Sunderland City Council

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Sunderland City Council
Civic Centre
Burdon Road
Sunderland
SR2 7DN

Tel. (0191) 520 5555
Calls may be recorded for quality and training purposes

School attendance and holidays

To help young people reach their full potential it is essential that they go to school regularly.

Schools and the Local Authority, through the Education Welfare Service, monitor absence and work with families and young people where the level of absence is giving cause for concern.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families publish advice and guidance on external linkschool attendance  and taking holidays during term-time.  If you are worried about your child's school attendance please contact us (Tel: 0191 553 5644).

School Term Dates 2008/9 (pdf document 96kb)

School Term Dates 2007/8 (pdf document 89kb)

School Term Dates 2006/7 (pdf document 80kb)

School Term Dates 2005/6 (Pdf Logo 18kb)

School Term Dates 2004/5 (pdf document 11kb)

School Term Dates 2003/4 (pdf document 12 kb) - updated 14/10/03 

Other useful information:

INSET days

Schools must open for 380 half-day sessions (190 days) in each school year, beginning with the first term to start after July. This is consistent with the 195 days a year required by a teacher's statutory conditions of service: the additional five days are for in-service training.  

The local authority is responsible for setting holiday, term dates in the case of community and voluntary controlled schools. The term dates of foundation and voluntary aided schools are decided by their governing bodies.

Unavoidable school closures

For the latest information on unavoidable school closures please telephone (0191) 520 5555.

Schools also notify local radio stations (Radio Newcastle, Century, Metro and Sun FM).

external linkExclusions from school - Advice and guidance from the ParentsCentre website.

Holidays during term time

Under education law parents may request absence for pupils from school due to a family holiday. It is for schools to determine whether or not they agree to a family holiday during term time. Schools may authorise absence for this purpose for up to 10 school days in any school year. In exceptional cases schools may agree to a lengthier period.

In considering any request for holiday absence, schools should look at individual circumstances and take account of:

  • the age of the pupil

  • the time of year proposed for the trip

  • its nature and parents'/carers' wishes

  • the overall attendance patter of the pupil

  • the pupil's stage of education and progress.

For further details or enquiries you can email: childrens.services.info@sunderland.gov.uk or telephone us on 0191 520 5555.

 

last updated 13/09/07