Municipality of Lelystad: exemptions from compulsory school attendance

Extra leave, exemption, and exceptions

There may be reasons why a child does not have to attend school, such as religious obligations or important family events, like a wedding or a funeral. You can apply for extra leave in writing for this purpose. An exemption applies for one school year in all cases.

Exemption from compulsory education

A child subject to compulsory education must be enrolled in a school. Parents can request an exemption from compulsory education only in exceptional circumstances.This is possible in three situations.

Psychological and physical complaints in the child

Is your child unable to attend school for an extended period due to physical or psychological problems? If so, you can apply to the Compulsory Education Officer for an exemption from compulsory education or the qualification requirement before July 1st. The truancy officer asks an independent doctor or psychologist to assess whether your child can be granted an exemption.

This medical certificate is required for the application, along with other relevant statements and documents.

Objection to the way of thinking or religious orientation of schools in your neighborhood

Do you object to the way of thinking or religious orientation of the education at schools or educational institutions located within a reasonable distance of your home? If so, you can apply for an exemption from compulsory education. You must submit the application at least one month before your child becomes subject to compulsory education. After that, you must do so again every year before July 1st. After your application, the compulsory education officer will invite you for a meeting. During the interview, the truancy officer reviews whether your objections comply with the rules of the Compulsory Education Act. If so, your child is entitled to an exemption for a school in the neighborhood. If you do not meet the requirements of the law, you must still enroll your child in a school or educational institution. If the educational offerings in Lelystad change over time, this may affect your request for an exemption.

Your child attends school abroad

Do you want your child to attend school abroad? Or has your child lived outside the Netherlands for more than 8 months and will they also attend school abroad next school year? If so, you must submit an application to the Compulsory Education Officer. Submit your application for exemption at least 1 month before your child becomes subject to compulsory education. After that, you must do this again every year before July 1st. Include a school certificate with your application.

The certificate must be in Dutch, English, German, or French. Is the declaration in another language? Then ensure you include a translation by a recognized translation agency with your application.

You must submit an attendance statement from the foreign school to the truancy officer at the end of the school year abroad, or as soon as your child returns to the Netherlands. You must also re-enroll your child in a Dutch school or educational institution. If you fail to do so, you are violating the Compulsory Education Act. This could result in you having to appear before a judge.

Extra verlof, vrijstelling en uitzonderingen | Gemeente Lelystad

Additional leave

You can only apply for leave for your child in exceptional circumstances:

Leave of up to and including 10 days: you must request this from the school principal.
Leave of 11 days or more: you must request this from the school principal, and the truancy officer will make the decision.

Conditions for extra leave

Additional leave is granted in special situations. These rules apply:

The extra leave may not be taken during the first 2 school weeks of the new school year.
The extra leave must be requested at least 8 weeks in advance.
The application for extra leave must be accompanied by an employer's statement. This statement must demonstrate that one of the parents is unable to take a family vacation during any school holiday (May, Christmas, or summer vacation).
Self-employed professionals must provide evidence from their records that taking a vacation during school holidays would cause significant financial problems for their business. They must also demonstrate that they are unable to take a vacation for two consecutive weeks during any school holiday.

Official Report

Have you requested extra leave of 11 days or more? And have you not received permission from the truancy officer? In that case, the truancy officer may draw up an official report if you leave without permission. An official report (PV) is an official, written report from the police or another supervisory authority. This report states what happened, for example, a criminal offense. An official report may also be drawn up if the school does not grant permission for leave of 10 days or less. The Public Prosecution Service determines whether you have violated the Compulsory Education Act. You can receive a fine of approximately 100 euros per child per day.

Around school holidays, the truancy officer may carry out extra checks to see if children are staying away from school without permission.

Exemption from compulsory education

Psychological and physical complaints in the child

he compulsory education officer engages an independent doctor or psychologist to assess whether your child is eligible for an exemption. This medical statement is required for the application, along with other relevant statements and documents.

Objection to the way of thinking or religious orientation of schools in your neighborhood

You must submit a statement explaining what your objections are.

Your child attends school abroad

Include a school certificate with your application for exemption. In this statement, the director of the school abroad declares that your child will be attending school there. The school statement must also include:

Name and date of birth of your child
Name and contact details of the school abroad
The date on which your child starts at the school abroad
The date on which the school year at the school abroad ends
Stamp of the school abroad
Name and signature of the director of the school abroad

The statement must be in Dutch, English, German, or French. Is the statement in another language? Then ensure you include a translation by a recognized translation agency with your application.

Extra leave

You can fill out the application form on the computer. The application form indicates to whom you must submit it.

Exemption from compulsory education

Psychological and physical complaints in the child

The truancy officer asks an independent doctor or psychologist to assess whether your child can be granted an exemption. This medical statement is required for the application, along with other relevant statements and documents.

Objection to the way of thinking or religious orientation of schools in your neighborhood

You must submit a statement explaining what your objections are. Please note: your child must not have been previously enrolled in a school or educational institution.

Your child attends school abroad

Include a school statement with your application. In this statement, the principal of the school abroad declares that your child will attend school there. The school statement must also include:

Name and date of birth of your child
Name and contact details of the school abroad
The date on which your child starts at the school abroad
The date on which the school year at the school abroad ends
Stamp of the school abroad
Name and signature of the director of the school abroad

The statement must be in Dutch, English, German, or French. Is the statement in another language? Then ensure you include a translation by a recognized translation agency with your application.

Extra leave

Download this online form for leave outside school holidays

You can fill out the application form on the computer. The application form indicates who you must submit it to.

Exemption from compulsory education

Psychological and physical complaints in the child

You can apply for an exemption from compulsory education or the qualification requirement with the compulsory education officer before July 1st via this online form (you need your DigiD for this).

Objection to the way of thinking or religious orientation of schools in your neighborhood

You must submit the application at least 1 month before your child becomes subject to compulsory education. After that, you must do this again every year before July 1st. You must submit a statement explaining what your objections are, by filling out this online form. You need your DigiD for this.

Your child attends school abroad

You can submit an application for this to the compulsory education officer via this online form (you need your DigiD for this). Appeal for exemption at least 1 month before your child becomes subject to compulsory education.

You will receive a decision within 8 weeks of your application. Is the application incomplete or does the investigation take more time? Then processing may take longer than 8 weeks

Do you disagree with this decision? Then you may lodge an objection within six weeks. The period begins on the date stated on the letter containing the decision. Ensure that you lodge your objection on time. Otherwise, we will not be able to process your objection. Send your notice of objection to the Municipal Executive of the Municipality of Lelystad, Postbus 91, 8200 AB Lelystad.

Your objection must in any case contain the following information:

- your name and address;

- the date on which you write the objection;

- your signature(s); -

a clear description of the decision against which you are objecting (for example, you can mention the date and reference number of the letter or enclose a copy);

- the reason why you disagree with the decision.

You can also submit a pro forma notice of objection. This means that you notify us within six weeks that you object, but that you send the reasons for your objection at a later date.

In addition, we would like to receive the following information from you:

- your telephone number

- your email address

If someone else submits the notice of objection on your behalf, you must issue an authorization.

It is also possible to submit your notice of objection electronically. To do so, go to www.lelystad.nl/bezwaar. You will also find more information there about submitting an objection.

Submitting a notice of objection by email is not possible.