Taking Your Child Out of School During Term Time (T Code)

What does the T Code mean?

• The T Code is outlined in the School Attendance Guidance.
• It is used to report the absence and attendance of children from Traveller families.
• It is a legal right for Traveller families to take their children out of school during term.
• But only when you are travelling for work purposes.

When can I use the T code?

Your child must be a member of a Traveller community. This includes:

• Irish and Scottish Travellers.
• English and Welsh Gypsies.
• Roma.
• Showmen.
• Circus people.
• Bargees.
• New Travellers.

They must have had a certain amount of attendance. Including:

• Attending at least 200 school sessions in the past 12 months if they are over six years old.
• One school day has two sessions.

You must be travelling for work and agree with the school beforehand.

• This means moving from place to place for your job.
• You do not have to provide proof to the school.

Can I use the T Code for other reasons?

• The T Code does not cover anything else other than work reasons.
• But you can still ask the school to take out your child for other events
• There may be times where it is accepted if enough notice is given.
• Be careful to confirm the absence with the school to avoid fines.
  • See Government website on school attendance for more information.
• Different codes are needed for events like weddings and funerals.

The process of using the T Code

• Tell the school the dates you are travelling for work as early as possible.
• The head teacher decides if the T Code can be used.
• Traveller children are still expected to attend 380 sessions each school year.

Types of absence

• You can be fined for unauthorised absence, if your child misses school without permission.
  • This can be up to £80 (rising to £160 if not paid within 21 days).
• If the T Code is used correctly, it counts as an authorised absence.
  • This will affect attendance but you should not get a fine.

Changes to the T code

• Some of the wording of the 2024 guidance has caused confusion.
• The Department for Education have confirmed that:
  • The 'mobile child' only needs to be of no fixed abode whilst the parent is trading/working.
• The definition of ‘no fixed abode’ under the new guidance means:
  • Someone either does not have a settled place where they can live full-time.
  • Or they have a place where they can live full-time but spend lots of time not living there.
• This means that a mobile child can include both:
  • A family who travels all year round as part of the work who has no permanent address.
  • And a child who has a fixed place to live but does not live there all year.

Dual registration

• Choosing dual registration means your child can attend a different school while travelling.
• They will still keep their place at their main school.
  • The one they have attended for the last 18 months.

What to do if you are having problems using the T code

Send the school a letter:

• If you told the school in advance that you were travelling for work
• or if there is confusion about changes to the T code you can use our:
  • Template T Code letter.
  • Just open the document, fill in your details and make sure to save it separately. 

Section 444(6) of the Education Act 1996

• This legislation recognises that Gypsy and Traveller families may be travelling for work.
• Therefore, use of the T code permits this absence.

Department for Education guide 2024

• Working together to improve school attendance is a statutory guide for schools and LAs.
• It uses the new term ‘mobile child’ to ‘describe any child of compulsory school age who has no fixed abode’ under the eligibility criteria.
• The Department for Education has confirmed that no legal or policy changes have been made about who is covered by the T code.