Guidance on absence for religious holidays

Dear Julian Taylor

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Reference number: FOI/CSF/04/10/2027

Dear Mr. Taylor

Thank you for your correspondence of the 6th April 2010 requesting the
following information:

Please would you tell me what guidance you give to governors and
headteachers on handling pupil absences from schools when a pupil
is observing a religious festival.

Specifically, under what circumstances would you advise that such
absences be treated as unauthorised?

Your request for information is being considered under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. We will respond to your request as quickly as
possible, and by 5th May 2010 at the latest.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, quoting
the reference number on this email. To find out more about Freedom of
Information, please visit www.hertsdirect.org/foi.

Yours sincerely,

Elaine Dunnicliffe
Senior Information Access Practitioner
________________________________________
Information Governance Unit
Hertfordshire County Council
Telephone: 01992 555848
Fax: 01992 588117
Email: [email address]

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Dear Mr. Taylor,

Reference number: FOI/CSF/04/10/2027

On 6th April .2010 we received the following request for information from
you:

Please would you tell me what guidance you give to governors and
headteachers on handling pupil absences from schools when a pupil
is observing a religious festival.

Specifically, under what circumstances would you advise that such
absences be treated as unauthorised?

Your request for information has been considered under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. I can confirm that Hertfordshire County Council does
hold the information you have requested, and can respond as follows:

Please find attached a copy of the policy currently available to schools.
Followed by a link to the guidance and absence codes required by the DCSF
(this is Guidance on the Education (School attendance targets)(England)
Regulations 2007) , these two documents provide the current guidance to
school governors and headteachers from Hertfordshire County Council.

This Attendance Policy is intended to guide, assist and empower schools to
meet their responsibilities and to provide an agreed framework within
which consistent practices and procedures can be applied.

Guidance on the Education (School attendance targets)(England)
Regulations 2007
http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/_doc/13914/...(School%20Attendance%20Targets)%20(England)%20Regulations%20(September%202007).doc

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, quoting
the reference number on this letter. To find out more about Freedom of
Information, please visit www.hertsdirect.org/foi

If you are unhappy with the way the County Council has handled your
request for information, you may complain through the County Council's
complaints procedure which is available at www.hertsdirect.org/complaints

If you are unhappy with the outcome of the complaints procedure you are
entitled to ask the Information Commissioner to investigate your
complaint. You should write to: FOI/EIR Complaints Resolution, Information
Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9
5AF.

Yours sincerely,

Elaine Dunnicliffe
Senior Information Access Practitioner
________________________________________
Information Governance Unit
Hertfordshire County Council
Telephone: 01992 555848
Fax: 01992 588117
Email: [email address]

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