When do schools submit attendence to Lincolnshire county council?

[Cluelessallthetime]

Hello

Question: When do secondary schools submit final attendance to the County council? (Does it make a difference to absences at the end of the final school term?)

I am looking to book a holiday towards the end of the final school term and want to avoid paying a fine. Currently, my childs attendence is 99% + . If my child was taken out of school during the final week of school, is there a chance I can avoid the fine because the attendance has already been submitted to County council? (if that makes sense?) Or does this not make a blind bit of difference, and I should just go ahead and book a term time holiday anyway, because I can’t avoid a fine for holidays taken at any point during term?

Thanks

Practice is an automatic return by each school to the Dep.for Education. This is something the DfE requested. This data, through DfE systems, is accessible by LA’s.

This attendance data return to the DfE is made via the schools information system (MIS) and happens daily.

Doesn’t make a difference. A school can choose to refer you for a fine for holiday at any point, regardless of when they have done the data census.

Ok, so is it still head teachers discretion or does the decision lie solely with the county council?

It doesn't matter when the attendance is submitted. A roll call is generated to show the unauthorised absence and sent off the the LA. Who then issue a fine.

DfE GUIDANCE to schools, LA’s and parents. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1099677/Working_together_to_improve_school_attendance.pdf

Usually it's the school who request that the council issue an EPN. You can contact your councils attendance team and ask them how many sessions trigger a fine it can vary,

In LIncolnshire it's over 4.5 days. In theory, it is at the Head's discretion, in practice there is so little leeway that almost all holidays are unauthorised and a fixed penalty notice is requested. As others have said, attendance returns to the LA are automatic.

Sorry, can I ask one more question please?

Is it 4.5 days absence for the entire school year (sickness plus term time holiday) or 4.5 days unauthorised absence (term time holiday)?

My child has taken one sick day so far.

thanks

It would be unusual to have an absence back in say Sept that would be included with absence at this time of year but this is where you need to check with your LA, as I know authorities that issue on 10 sessions, some are 14 sessions, you've just had a different example of 4.5 days, itcreally does vary but the LA will clarify. You don't even have to tell them why you're enquiring, just ask them for clarity on EPN protocol in your area.
Also was the illness not authorised? As this can't be included, Fines are only issued on unauthorised absence.

Ah ok, the absence was authorised, so that shouldn’t count then. Thanks

Looks like Lincolnshire issue quite a lot of fines - 144 for holidays in the first half term in 2020-2021!

I'm just accept you're going to be fined - or go later.

https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/directory-record/67330/school-absence-fines

And it will be even higher now, we are expected to refuse to authorise almost every holiday and apply for a fixed penalty notice for EVERY instance of absence on holiday over 4.5 days. We have a local authority inspection every term when someone comes in, scrutinises all our holiday applications and any reasons why we might have authorised and checks we have requested penalty notices for the rest. Any not done, she ensures we do!

It's any period of unauthorised holiday over 4.5 days. Lincolnshire also fine for persistent absenteeism but holidays are separate to that.

I can't speak for all Lincolnshire schools but the one I work in has only approved one term time holiday application in the last couple of years and those were very exceptional circumstances.