Holidays

We recognise that some parents have difficulties in arranging their own holidays to suit school holiday periods. Whilst parents remain free, within reason, to remove their children for holidays during term time, you should, however, appreciate that prolonged absence from school at any stage is harmful to a child’s education and it is not possible and not fair to other children – to direct teaching time to assist a child who has been on holiday to catch up on what they have missed. Parents should always inform the school, in writing, of any such holiday plans.

The exception to this is when a family holiday is judged to be important to the well-being and cohesion of the family following serious or terminal illness, bereavement or other traumatic events.

A parent may be asked to come into school to explain the reason for their child’s absence in line with the Authority’s legal duty under the [Education (Scotland) Act 1980, Section 36].

Term dates can be found at School term and holiday dates – Dumfries and Galloway Council.