• home
• full contents
• keywords & contacts
• contact us / update
• search
• forms library
• 

Contents

1. Holidays in the UK
2. Holidays or School Trips Abroad
3. Holidays which Raise Concern 
4. When the Court’s Permission is Required  
5. Insurance  
6. Obtaining a Passport

1. Holidays in the UK

Children may only be taken out of school for holidays, in very exceptional circumstances and only with the prior approval of Designated Manager (School or Educational Trips).  The assumption must be that looked after children will not miss school.

Where there is a proposal for a Looked After Child to go on holiday in the UK, the child’s Social Worker must obtain full information about the holiday, and seek the views of the child and Parent as soon as possible. 

If the Parents Consent, their consent must be obtained in writing.

Where the Social Worker, Parent and Staff/Carer agree to the proposed holiday, the holiday can be approved and should be included in the child’s Placement Plan/Placement Information Record.

Where Parental consent is not given, the Social Worker should obtain legal advice as to whether the holiday can go ahead.  Where the Social Worker considers that the holiday should go ahead despite the Parents’ opposition and legal advice supports this, the approval of the Social Worker’s Manager to the holiday should be sought.  The request for such approval should include the legal advice given.

Written confirmation of the Manager’s decision, together with the reasons, should be provided to the Parent.

If approved, the holiday should be included in the Placement Plan/Placement Information Record.

Where the holiday will interrupt contact arrangements between the child and Parents, consideration should also be given to including in the Placement Information Record/Placement Plan additional contact before and after the holiday.

2. Holidays or School Trips Abroad

Children may only be taken out of school for holidays, in very exceptional circumstances and only with the prior approval of Designated Manager (School or Educational Trips). 

Where there is a proposal for a Looked After Child to go on holiday or a school trip abroad, the child’s Social Worker must obtain full information about the holiday, and seek the views of the child and Parent as soon as possible. 

If the Parents Consent, their consent must be obtained in writing.

The Social Worker should seek the approval of Designated Manager (School or Educational Trips) to the holiday.  If there are any concerns about the child being at risk resulting from the holiday (e.g. if there is political unrest within the planned destination, or there are concerns the child may not return as planned), this should be brought to the attention of Designated Manager, who may decide to seek members approval for the Holiday.  See Section 3, Holidays which Raise Concerns.

The written request for such approval should include information about the length of and arrangements for the holiday; the wishes of the child; the views of the Parent; the views of the Staff/Carer; the likely cost and how it is to be funded.  The request for approval may be accompanied by a request for financial support and should always be accompanied by the child’s up to date Care Plan, Placement Information Record/Placement Plan and, where applicable, Child Protection Plan and Pathway Plan.

Where Parental consent is not given, the Social Worker should obtain legal advice as to whether the holiday can go ahead.  Where the legal advice indicates the holiday is possible, Designated Manager (School or Educational Trips) approval to the holiday can still be sought.  The request for such approval should include the legal advice given.

Written confirmation of Designated Manager’s decision, together with the reasons, should be provided to the Parent.

If approved, the holiday arrangements should be included in the Placement Information Record/Placement Plan 

Where the holiday will interrupt contact arrangements between the child and Parents, consideration should also be given to including in the Placement Information Record/Placement Plan additional contact before and after the holiday.

3. Holidays which Raise Concerns

If it is proposed to arrange a holiday for a Looked After Child to a  destination where the child may be at risk, for example, where there is political unrest, concern that the child may not return as planned or other circumstances which may make it unsafe for the child, it may be necessary to seek the approval of the Director.

In these circumstances, the Social Worker should consult Designated Manager (School or Educational Trips) who may decide to seek the authority of the Director.

If it is decided that the matter should be referred to the Director, the Social Worker should draft a report to include the following points:

1. The name of the person(s) with whom the child is going on holiday and their relationship to the child;
2. Holiday address;
3. Dates of the holiday;
4. The views of the child;
5. The views of the Parent(s) and their consent to the proposed holiday. Where the Parental consent is not obtained, details should be recorded;
6. If a report from International Social Services (ISS) has been obtained, a summary should be included. It this has been requested and not yet received, the committee may agree to the holiday taking place, subject to a satisfactory report from ISS;
7. Cost to the council, if any. The necessary approval of expenditure should be attached.

The Social Worker will be notified of the Director’s decision and will receive a copy of the decision for the case file.

4. When the Court’s Permission is Required

If the child is the subject of a Care Order and the holiday abroad is for more than one month, an application must also be made to the appropriate Court for the Court’s permission to allow the child to go abroad if the Parent’s written agreement is not obtained.

Where a Court Order is required, the Social Worker should contact Legal Services as soon as possible for the necessary application to be made and advise the Parents of the intended application.

If the holiday is authorised by the Court, the holiday should be included in the Placement Information Record/Placement Plan and additional contact arranged as above.

5. Insurance

5.1 Medical Treatment during visits to EEC countries

Children travelling abroad to EEC countries may be covered for medical treatment through their natural Parents.  The Department of Health provide advice on this, including forms which should be completed in the name of the Parent, as the EEC regulations provide medical cover for workers (or persons registered for work) or their dependants.

Where a child is the subject of a Care Order , forms should still be completed in the name of the natural Parent and not the Director of Children’s Social Care.

5.2 Private Medical Insurance Cover or Insurance Cover for Holidays

In situations were medical cover is required at short notice, it is suggested that private insurance cover is taken out.

The insurance referred to in Section 5.1, Medical Treatment during visits to EEC Countries above only covers a child for medical treatment and not for loss of luggage, cover for cancellation of the holiday etc. Therefore a private insurance policy is needed for a child travelling abroad.

6. Obtaining a Passport

The United Kingdom Passport Office provides guidance for Social Workers seeking to obtain a passport for a Looked After Child. 

If the Children’s Social Care Department has previously applied for a passport on the child’s behalf and are applying for a renewal or extension, a letter outlining the circumstances mentioned above and state that these have not changed is sufficient. In these circumstances there is no need to complete the application form.  This should be signed by Designated Manager (Passports).

Where there is a proposal for a child to go on holiday abroad and the child does not currently hold a valid passport, the Social Worker will obtain and complete the necessary application for the child or assist the child to complete the necessary application form.

If it is an urgent application where an application is made in person, the Social Worker must provide evidence of their identity and a signed letter of authorisation from Designated Manager (Passports).

For further advice on passport applications, see the Identity and Passport Service Guidance

End