Closed petition Allow school children 5 days of absence: for family, holidays & mental wellbeing

Closed on 15 August 2023

Allow school children 5 days of absence each year, to be taken at a time of their choosing, excluding periods of examination.

We believe current penalties for children being absent for reasons other than sickness are unfair, especially fines, which disproportionately impact lower income families.

During the pandemic, children were kept out of school for the protection of their physical health.

However, a child’s development depends on a holistic approach, and their wider wellbeing is of equal importance.

5 days of permitted absence would allow more families to have affordable quality time and experiences together, which could have a lasting positive effect on development and the future generation of workers.

We believe these potential benefits far outweigh the minimal disruption to a child’s education.