NEW guidelines for when pupils are allowed time off during term time have been welcomed.

The guidance updates headteachers in England on the scenarios in which pupils can be granted absence during the school year.

This follows an increase in the number of fines for unauthorised absences, which have been labelled confusing by parents.

There were 50 penalty notices for non school attendance issued in Worcestershire in the first term after the law on taking children out of school changed in September 2013.

The guidelines have been issued by the head teachers' union, the NAHT, but will not lead to any changes in the Department for Education's term time absence policy.

Councillor Liz Eyre, cabinet member for children and families, said: "Headteachers know from the response of the Department for Education that they do have local discretion to grant absences during term time.

"I can appreciate that some headteachers might feel more detailed guidance on what constitutes exceptional circumstances for granting absence during term time is helpful.

" I think that approach could be a blunt instrument."

Before September 2013, a total of 10 days leave could be given in 'special circumstances' by heads in England.

However, after a change in the law, they can now allow absences outside school holidays only in 'exceptional circumstances'.

Events counting as 'exceptional circumstances' include funerals and weddings, but cheaper holidays are not a good enough reason.

Cllr Eyre said she believed headteachers were best placed to make decisions about pupil absences.

She said: "The Oxford dictionary clearly defines exceptional circumstances as unusual not typical.

"It is our headteachers, supported by governors, who know their parents and children best and have all the information to make such a decision as to what is usual and what is unusual in a consistent way, in a local context.

"There is a real danger that detailed legislation, guidance or outside opinion will fetter the discretion of our head teachers...

"Headteachers are well placed to weight up the available information in the knowledge of their families.

"It is right the discretion lies with them rather than being more generic."

Russell Hobby, NAHT general secretary, said: “The fundamental principles for defining ‘exceptional’ are where requests are rare, significant, unavoidable and short.

"NAHT believes that these new guidelines support existing government policy on school absence.

"They will give headteachers and parents a consistent and reasonable definition of 'exceptional'.

"This will help with making individual decisions about granting authorised absence in term time.”