School Term Time Fines

tigger2000

mandragora wrote: »

Needs to be 10 sessions (ie ten half days) in my LA. I'm sorry to hear your child doesn't like school. Anything specific? It needs to be tackled, really, rather than dealt with by days off - even if it is just the two or three so far - especially if he's still only in primary. Have you spoken to the school at all?

Yes it is specific(special needs) and did not really want to go into it on this thread as not really relevent apart from the fact he would benefit from some family time. And just to clarify sorry I do not keep him off school because he hates it he goes to school every day he is well all be it reluctantly. My children are only ever kept off school if they are ill(and a lot of this time can b in hospital ill) so I would say that is not the same as a parent just keeping their child at home for the day.
Surely truancy needs to be reduced but ill health cannot be helped( but could be reduced if more parents kept sick children at home for a day or 2!)

nlwsaint...it just shows that honesty does not pay! I have always been honest and would hate to lie about my children being ill as that is not fair on the children either.

I like the educational visit one though thanks may be using that! Glad to hear I am not overreacting I have felt very angry about it. Thanks!

blueberrypie

mandragora wrote: »

Yep. You can be fined if you don't get your children educated. Shocker, I know.

There's a difference between "going to school" and "getting an education". You can do either of them without doing the other.

blueberrypie

tigger2000 wrote: »

I like the educational visit one though thanks may be using that!

From a legal point of view, it doesn't matter whether you justify it by saying it was an educational visit or a day in bed. It would still be an unauthorised absence unless the Head Teacher had given permission.

tigger2000

blueberrypie wrote: »

From a legal point of view, it doesn't matter whether you justify it by saying it was an educational visit or a day in bed. It would still be an unauthorised absence unless the Head Teacher had given permission.

I know you are right it just seems sometimes the wrong people are getting penalised. Grouping all absences as truancy seems unjust but hey suppose I just need to accept it!
Cor I need a holiday to get over the stress of thinking about this matter!!

Pont

blueberrypie wrote: »

From a legal point of view, it doesn't matter whether you justify it by saying it was an educational visit or a day in bed. It would still be an unauthorised absence unless the Head Teacher had given permission.

An unauthorised absence is only a pain in the b**t for the school records, it doesn't matter one iota to either the child or the parent. A record of taking one day off, or indeed ten days off, isn't going to cause major problems in the child's future (unless a parent is irresponsible and removes their child through exam time).
A degree of commonsense exercised by both the parent and the school is surely the best policy. Unfortunately the type of parent who does not possess said commonsense is also the the type of parent who wouldn't pay the 'fine' anyway. Call me a synic but the fining of parents in this way just seems another underhand revenue making policy.

pollypenny

Pont wrote: »

An unauthorised absence is only a pain in the b**t for the school records, it doesn't matter one iota to either the child or the parent. A record of taking one day off, or indeed ten days off, isn't going to cause major problems in the child's future (unless a parent is irresponsible and removes their child through exam time).

Although I sympathise with parents who want to take the occasional holiday in school time, it is not quite correct to say that taking 'ten days off' isn't going to make a difference.

A pupil who has missed work will have trouble understanding the rest of the topic or important concept, as in case of maths or science. Do these parents then expect the teachers to give up their own time for extra lessons to help child catch up?

Teahfc

Could children not be means tested to see if talking them from school would put them back and thus holding back others in the class ?

I don't pay taxes for kids to be just taken out of school because 'its cheaper' that does not wash with me. The fines should be high enough and ENFORCED to ALL parents ..religion or creed also,to balance the saving on a holiday.

There is a reason why kids have time off school and that is to be used for holidays :mad: ..... write to your MP about getting a more balanced price structure or live with supply and demand or have thick kids leaving school with no qualifications and no future.

Rant over ...and yes I am not a parent

sturll

Teahfc wrote: »

Could children not be means tested to see if talking them from school would put them back and thus holding back others in the class ?

I don't pay taxes for kids to be just taken out of school because 'its cheaper' that does not wash with me. The fines should be high enough and ENFORCED to ALL parents ..religion or creed also,to balance the saving on a holiday.

There is a reason why kids have time off school and that is to be used for holidays :mad: ..... write to your MP about getting a more balanced price structure or live with supply and demand or have thick kids leaving school with no qualifications and no future.

Rant over ...and yes I am not a parent

Would never have guessed.

:rolleyes:

Basically you are commenting on something you have no experience of, no knowledge of and something you have never probably looked into. I think your comments should be read with that in mind.

Pont

Quote Pollypenny
Although I sympathise with parents who want to take the occasional holiday in school time, it is not quite correct to say that taking 'ten days off' isn't going to make a difference.

A pupil who has missed work will have trouble understanding the rest of the topic or important concept, as in case of maths or science. Do these parents then expect the teachers to give up their own time for extra lessons to help child catch up?

I take on board what you're saying, however it still boils down to both parents and school possessing a degree of commonsense. As a parent I wouldn't consider taking my children out of school during term time unless they were on top of the game. I would also ask what topics they were covering during their absence from school (as I would if they were off school for a week due to illness) as it's very easy for a child to complete some background reading or for a parent to search out various key stage topics on the net.

As a parent I would feel it MY responsibility to ensure they caught up with missing work. OK, I'm aware this wouldn't apply to all parents but the school knows which children/parents would be sensible and which would not.

I should perhaps add here that I teach, albeit not in a mainstream school, and have just 'allowed' one of my GCSE students a week off for a holiday. This pupil has completed all coursework, has put in extra time to stay ahead, and I have absolutely no worries that a week off will compromise his final examination grades.

Teahfc

sturll wrote: »

Would never have guessed.

:rolleyes:

Basically you are commenting on something you have no experience of, no knowledge of and something you have never probably looked into. I think your comments should be read with that in mind.

Basically it is supply and demand .... Basically it is illegal to remove a child from school to go on 'holiday' thus they impose a fine ...if that is not a deterrent then they need to put the fines up . Schools are to learn holidays are for fun.
I have looked into it and as a tax payer why should I pay tax for a child's schooling if their parents insist in keeping them away from the place ! :mad: