Petition · past parliament · Department for Education
Allow SEND children to be taken out of school once a year without penalty
Closed
4,716 signatures
What the petition asks
We want the Government to make it so parents of SEND children can take their child out of school once a year without facing any penalty. This would enable parents to take SEND children on holiday outside of school holidays, when everyone being on holiday can be overwhelming.
Current rules mean that where parents feel they have no choice but to take their SEND child out of school during term time, so they can go on a holiday without their child being overwhelmed, they can be fined, and their child's attendance record suffers. We believe this is unfair.
This is an issue that affects many families across the country. The latest Government figures state that over 1.5 million pupils in England have special educational needs (SEN).
This is an issue that affects many families across the country. The latest Government figures state that over 1.5 million pupils in England have special educational needs (SEN).
Timeline
| 17 Apr 2024 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 29 May 2024 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
4,716
Status
Closed
Department
Department for Education
Opened
17 Apr 2024
Closed
29 May 2024
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.