Leave outside school vacations

In principle, your child may not take leave outside school vacations. If you do, you are violating the Compulsory Education Act and are liable to punishment. But, there are exceptions.

In principle, you may not take your child on vacation outside the school vacations. If you do, you are violating the Compulsory Education Act and are punishable by law. Is your work not allowing you to go on vacation during any of the school vacations in a school year? Does going on vacation during a school vacation lead to insurmountable business risks? Then you can request leave outside the school vacations once per school year. 

Appeal for exemption

Sometimes your work does not allow you to take a vacation with your family during any school vacations during the school year. If you do seasonal work that makes it effectively impossible for the family to take a vacation during that period. Seasonal work is work with operations in industries that experience peak traffic. If it is demonstrably impossible to take a vacation during the school vacations, you may request a leave of absence. This request for leave outside the school vacations is called: appeal for exemption. 

Requesting permission

You request permission in writing from the school principal. You must do this no later than 8 weeks before you go on vacation. The principal may ask you for a statement showing that you cannot go on vacation as a family in a continuous 14-day period during all regular school vacations. It must be reasonably foreseeable and/or demonstrated that a vacation during the school vacations will result in insurmountable business risks. Merely the fact that a significant portion of turnover is achieved during the school vacations is insufficient. The school principal will decide whether your child will receive additional time off from school. The leave period may cover a maximum of 10 school days per year and must meet the Requirements of the Compulsory Education Act. 

Requirements

Your child can receive time off only if: 

  • you can prove that your work prevents you from taking a vacation during school vacations; 
  • the leave does not fall in the first 2 weeks after summer vacation; 
  • it is a family vacation, not exceeding 10 school days; 
  • doing vacation during a school vacation leads to insurmountable business risks. 

This request can only be made once per school year. 

Learn more

Still have questions?

If so, please contact the Public Center

Municipality of Opsterland