The T Code

When Can You Use the T Code?

1. Traveller Community: Your child must be a member of a Traveller community. This includes:
   • Irish and Scottish Travellers
   • English and Welsh Gypsies
   • Roma
   • Showmen (fairground people)
   • Circus people
   • Bargees
   • New Age Travellers
2. School Attendance: Your child must have attended at least 200 school sessions in the past 12 months if they are over six years old. (One school day has two sessions.)
3. Travelling for Work: You must be travelling for work and agree with the school beforehand. This means moving from place to place for your job. You can also choose dual registration, meaning your child can attend a different school while travelling and still keep their place at their main school (the one they have attended for the last 18 months).

When Can You Not Use the T Code?

• Other Reasons: You cannot use the T Code to take your child out of school for events like weddings or funerals. Different codes are needed for these absences.
• Non-Parent Travel: The T Code cannot be used if someone other than the child’s parents is taking them travelling.

Important Things to Remember

• Head Teacher’s Decision: The head teacher decides if the T Code can be used.
• Attendance Expectation: Traveller children are still expected to attend 380 sessions each school year.
• Fines for Unauthorised Absence: You can be fined if your child misses school without permission.
• Authorised Absence: If the T Code is used correctly, it counts as an authorised absence, which will affect attendance but should not result in a fine.