School Term Time Fines

bargain_hunter_2

Taking 2 dd's out of school next week to go to Austria for my biggy birthday !!!!
One at primary one at secondary. Asked eldest's guidance teacher what to put on the note and was told just to say that they would be absent but not to give any explanation. Did this at the start of term and haven't heard anything since. We're going anyway and if the schools have anything to say we'll just have to deal with it. Thing is Eldests school is going to austria skiing the very next week (she never got selected) so how can they say this is any different. I've not done it before and probably won't again but hey, its not every day your 40:j

creased-leach

That does wind me up Bargain Hunter- when it's fine for the school to take them away, yet they send home snotty letters should the family wish too. I know it's valuable for them to spend time away with their peers- but some family time away from the stresses & strains of every day life is valuable- and can be made educational, too. And for the cost of one of the kids going on a school trip, I can get us all a holiday!

shimmershelly

Thanks to you all for the helpful replies. If it's only likely to be £50 each per child per week, then that's not too bad. Up until this year it was 10 days authorised absence allowed but now that has been quashed completely.
I took my son for an audition earlier this year (bearing in mind his school is supposed to be an "Arts Academy" a fancy name for having a big drama department!), and even this wasn't authorised.
Now I just have to make sure we still have somewhere to stay (long story!), before I start checking flights.
Thanks again everyone (and thanks for the invite rachfriar78!!)

shimmershelly

Zziggi wrote: »

It is £50 per child, per parent, per week. So 2 kids with 2 parents with a fortnight out would be £400.

Just wanted to question this, surely thats penalising you for being a two parent family, how odd?!! I'd be inclined to tell them my husband had left me (but only for a fortnight lol!)

rachfriar78

Shimmershelly you can use my wedding as your excuse if you want lol just tell them you are my MOH (not that i condone telling fibs) lol x

shimmershelly

I might just do that, thank you!! :T

kittykat100

We asked permission to take the other halfs kids out 8 and 12, for one week in a couple of weeks. They granted permission but did put their disproval through on the letter! They also said that there would be little chance of being granted permission again in the future.
If permission hadn't been granted we would have taken them anyway as there is no way we could afford to take them away in the holidays and taken the hit on any fine. The kids have good attendance and I don't think 1 week out of sats or exams times will harm them.
Kittyx

tarajayne

stephb34 wrote: »

How old are your children, mine is 5 and we are officially allowed to take our children out of school for 10 days per school year without being fined.

I work in a school, you are allowed to apply for up to 10 days per year but it is at the Headteachers discrection. Our Headteacher has been on a course today where this was covered, she pointed out that as this is an area of parents who run holiday businesses and that there is no way they can afford to go away whilst the children are out of school as this is their busiest time. She will continue to look at every application very carefully before making each decision.

moggitymog

quite lucky at dd school, head teacher may be a pain in the !!! but always agrees 2 weeks term time holiday, this year we needed an extra day on the end and she asked us to ring dd in sick

mrs_lds

I am taking our 5 children out of school to go to rome . Not only is this cheaper than holiday time but educationally they will learn a lot more than being continually palmed off to supply teachers or stuck infront of a dvd to watch part of a film which they never seem to see the end of.