Fined for holiday in school time

clarabella23

Hi, just wondered if anyone had any experience in this area? In November I took my daughter to Florida for 3 weeks. This holiday was booked May 2008, when my daughter was 4 and in Reception class. She was 5 when we went away, and in Year 1 at school.
When I booked the holiday, the law wasn't yet in place (as far as I believe) about taking children out of school. She also has not had any days off throughout the year, except for 2 dentist appointments.
Yesterday, I came home from work to find a letter saying I had to pay a £50 fine by 11th Jan for this. If I don't pay by then, it will double to £100, then eventually I will be prosecuted and possibly be fined £2,500.
There is no information on the letter about appealing, which is what I would like to do. Anybody been in a similar situation?
Thanks, Claire

Mupette

sorry to say but the law has been around for a few years..

check the date of this 2003.

But no sorry i don't have experience of this, i can't afford the fine so i havent taken my son out of school during term time.

But saying that each school is different, some allow it, some don't.

shayward

While this may be the law, I do find it a bit silly to fine parents for taking their 5 year olds out of school for a short period.

I went to school in a different country and school was only compulsory for children in the year in which they turned 7. Why we as a country are so set on making sure that children hate school by forcing them behind desks at such a young age is beyond me.

Have you tried contacting your local education department to find out about appealing?

clarabella23

I had a letter at the beginning of the year saying that the 10 days holiday they previously allowed was no longer in place. Maybe every school/area has there own rules then?

clarabella23

Not yet, like I say, recieved the letter as I got in from work yesterday, just thought I would see if anyone had been in the same situation

shellsuit

Did you inform the school beforehand that you would be taking her out for 3 weeks?

At my children's school (when they were in infant/junior school), we just had to write a letter to the head and fill in a holiday form, then we would be told, Yes or No, whether the time off was granted or not.

Same now they are in high school.

If you didn't inform them and it wasn't granted, then I can see why they have sent you the fine.

clarabella23

Hi, I chatted with the class teacher about it when I first booked the holiday, so they definately kneww, and let them know at the offica about a month before we went, and confirmed in writing about a week and a half before we went. I asked for a holiday form, but they told me they no longer did these. But I definately know that when I booked the holiday, they allowed 10 days holiday allowance for each child. We were only going for this time, but it actually worked out cheaper to go for a few extra days. I am a single parent, and saved for 18 months to pay for this holiday, and thought that while she was this age was the best time to do it, as she has no exams, etc at this time. The price also more than doubled to go in school holiday times.

moromir

shayward wrote: »

While this may be the law, I do find it a bit silly to fine parents for taking their 5 year olds out of school for a short period.

The OP doesn't say whether part of the three week holiday fell in recognised holiday time or whether her child was removed from schooling for three weeks, but if a child misses three weeks of school, I don't think that is a short period, thats nearly half a term

clarabella23

It was all in term time, but we hadn't hard confirmed dates for school holidays at the time of booking- I thought the first week would be during half term as they started back at school later this year than they normally do. We went the 3rd to the 20th of November, but half term ended up falling the week before.
Thanks for all your replies.

peachyprice

moromir wrote: »

The OP doesn't say whether part of the three week holiday fell in recognised holiday time or whether her child was removed from schooling for three weeks, but if a child misses three weeks of school, I don't think that is a short period, thats nearly half a term

November will be at least 2 weeks term time, half term is usually the last week in October. So 1/3 of a term at least.

shellsuit

clarabella23 wrote: »

Hi, I chatted with the class teacher about it when I first booked the holiday, so they definately kneww, and let them know at the offica about a month before we went, and confirmed in writing about a week and a half before we went. I asked for a holiday form, but they told me they no longer did these. But I definately know that when I booked the holiday, they allowed 10 days holiday allowance for each child. We were only going for this time, but it actually worked out cheaper to go for a few extra days. I am a single parent, and saved for 18 months to pay for this holiday, and thought that while she was this age was the best time to do it, as she has no exams, etc at this time. The price also more than doubled to go in school holiday times.

Well in that case, I'd take the fine letter into school to show them, to see what the head says about it.

I'd speak to the head, and let them know that you asked for a holiday form and was told that they didn't have them.

That you told the office about it, that you had put it in writing, and not once did anyone let you know that it could be a problem.

I'd also ask how your daughter was marked for the time off too.

Whether she was marked as 'authorised absence' or 'non authorised' absence.

If they had her marked down as non authorised, I wouldn't be happy at all, especially as they knew she was going!

Good luck with it and let us know how you get on x