The Department for Education are trying to talk away the story about the NAHT producing guidelines as to when term time absence should be allowed.
Earlier this year I wrote to the Department suggesting this as way towards a solution. However, the department refused this as a proposal. The Minister as I understand it is now signing off on the guidelines.
Hence it is a clear U-turn on the department's previous position that "exceptional circumstances" was all that needed to be said.
It remains, however, that the underlying argument still needs to be made. At this stage I do not have a copy of the guidelines and so cannot comment in detail.
It is also important to understand the role of Ofsted. If Ofsted pressurise schools to reduce the number of approved absences regardless of the reasons for the absence then silly decisions will continue to be made.
Hence progress is being made. The DfE have made a partial U-turn. However, more work needs to be done.
Earlier this year I wrote to the Department suggesting this as way towards a solution. However, the department refused this as a proposal. The Minister as I understand it is now signing off on the guidelines.
Hence it is a clear U-turn on the department's previous position that "exceptional circumstances" was all that needed to be said.
It remains, however, that the underlying argument still needs to be made. At this stage I do not have a copy of the guidelines and so cannot comment in detail.
It is also important to understand the role of Ofsted. If Ofsted pressurise schools to reduce the number of approved absences regardless of the reasons for the absence then silly decisions will continue to be made.
Hence progress is being made. The DfE have made a partial U-turn. However, more work needs to be done.
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