School Term Time Fines

shimmershelly

Our LEA has ruled out all authorised absence for holidays in term time, and put fines in place if you take kids out of school. Does anyone else have any experience of this? Is it worth wearing the fine when you compare it against the price of holidays in school holidays and the fact that they can triple.
Don't get me wrong, I am usually a good girl and just go on holiday in July or August, I haven't taken the kids out for years. Its just I really fancy a florida holiday this year, and the last time we went it was August, unbearable heat and many thunderstorms. I would really like to go in October over the half term week but adding a week on. Neither child has sats this year or next.
Just as a comparision, I checked flights for April school holidays and they were £4000 compared to £1500 in school time. Those travel companies are so naughty, they have us by the short and curlies!

rachfriar78

I personally would risk the fine. What is it? £50 per child? Put in hol form and if it doesnt get authorised deal with the situation if it arises

shimmershelly

That's what I'm thinking, the trouble is it's just new this year so I'm not sure what the fine would be. Even if it was a couple of hundred it would still be cheaper than going in school hols. I just feel so bad, I'd just have to ban them from having any sick days for the rest of the year to keep their attendance up lol!

rachfriar78

Are your children doing well education wise? If they are I wouldn't feel bad as hols can be educational too.

shimmershelly

Good point, yes they are both doing well, no problems there. We would have to make sure to do things like Ripley's Believe It Or Not, I'm sure that must be educational somehow

fifeken

Tell the school they're sick - something infectious.

rachfriar78

Lmao @ fifeken! We are off to Florida, not only for a hol but to get married too and the cost in the august hols was silly to say the least

shimmershelly

How lovely, congratulations! :T :j

susieb

Just ring in and say they are ill, how are they to prove they are not.

busiscoming2

Ringing in to say they are ill is fine, but if they are in secondary school you have to phone each day to record the absence, could/would you want to do this whilst on holiday and with a time difference too!

cceg

The school where my neice attends charges £7 per day per child for holidays in school time.
You still have to ask permission, permission is granted unless it is a time when the child can not miss school. exams etc...