Fined for holiday in school time

clarabella23

It was all marked as unauthourised absence. I recieved a letter from the head 2 days after I put my letter in, saying that she wouldn't authorise this absence, and that she would be referring us to an Education Welfare Officer.
We haven;t heard from this officer, had any phone calls, letters or meetings, nobody has said it has had any effect on my daughters schooling whatsoever, and it didn't mention fines in the letter (as best as I recall)

Pont

There have been other posts on this subject. Some believe this policy is a good idea, some don't. I belong to the latter group! Did the letter come direct from the school or via the LEA?

If you want a battle perhaps reply asking exactly what your daughter missed in school during her 3 week absence ie detailed lesson plans, planned visits/trips and how these activities link to the NC etc. etc. This is just to purely put a spanner in the works and to drag out the process. You could also mention that her trip to Florida was educational in it's own right - experiencing different cultures (perhaps don't mention Disney!).

If you want an easy life reply stating that your daughter was unwell and it slipped your mind to telephone the school! She could also have suffered a period of 'school phobia' of course!

This policy has been put in place in some LEAs to address the problem of truancy. However, the parents of the kids who truant the most are the least likely to pay the fines. This smacks of yet another revenue raising scheme to me.

In our local schools, both primary and secondary, there isn't a problem. If your children are good attenders then the parent simply signs a holiday form and off you go! Some parents simply can't get time off during the recognised school holidays. Btw, I'm a teacher.

peachyprice

clarabella23 wrote: »

It was all marked as unauthourised absence. I recieved a letter from the head 2 days after I put my letter in, saying that she wouldn't authorise this absence, and that she would be referring us to an Education Welfare Officer.
We haven;t heard from this officer, had any phone calls, letters or meetings, nobody has said it has had any effect on my daughters schooling whatsoever, and it didn't mention fines in the letter (as best as I recall)

So you did know the head didn't approve then. In which case I cannot see what your grounds for appeal are.

'Chatting with the class teacher' when you booked it is not the same as asking permission from the head. The teacher couldn't possibly know what decision the head would have made.

Kazipoo

I would tend to agree with shellsuit. If they school has already agreed this with you, then I doubt they can then go back on their word and fine you.

Having said that, if you didn't formally agree anything (rather you just told them and they neither agreed nor disagreed) then it is tantamount to you removing your children for a fairly long period of the term, and therefore would warrant a fine IMO.

Here in Leeds there are fines in place, however, I always ensure that holiday forms are filled in and letters are sent to the school reminding them of the arrangement. I also ensure that I get relevant permissions in writing. I take my girls out of school every year for one week and I have never had a problem obtaining permission to do so.

clarabella23

Thats all fine and I will pay that fine if I have to- the quality time with my daughter was worth a lot more than £50 anyway! I just wanted to know if anyone else had been in a similar situation. As I say, different rules where in place when I booked the holiday, I informed my childs teacher at the time of booking, my daughter will have been talking about this all the time so they knew she was going! I wasn't informed that I had to let the head know until I asked about holiday forms- and holiday forms aren't given at my childs school. Apparently, even a week would be declined.
Like a previous poster says, though, this all just smacks of some moneymaking from the council. People who's children play traunt from the school rarely get chased, as they know they are unlikely to get paid. So take it out on the rest of us.
I wonder what benefit my daughter or her school will get from this £50- will they benefit directly from it?
I am quite tempted to ask them to investigate what effect it has had on my daughters education- whether they can show she has been affected in anyway by missing this period of school.

shellsuit

clarabella23 wrote: »

It was all marked as unauthourised absence. I recieved a letter from the head 2 days after I put my letter in, saying that she wouldn't authorise this absence, and that she would be referring us to an Education Welfare Officer.
We haven;t heard from this officer, had any phone calls, letters or meetings, nobody has said it has had any effect on my daughters schooling whatsoever, and it didn't mention fines in the letter (as best as I recall)

Oh, no wonder you were fined. I think the only thing you can do is pay it I'm afraid!

Pont

When exactly did your daughter turn 5? There is 'no legal obligation' for a child to attend school until the term following their 5th birthday. If this applies in your case then the school/LEA are on a hiding to nothing as 'legally' your child didn't have to be in school.

I think this policy is a legal minefield. There is no law stating that a child has to attend school - merely that they should receive appropriate education according to their age/needs etc. Again, in theory, any parent can remove their child from the school roll at any time, so could remove their child from school for 3, 4 weeks holiday then reregister them after they return!

ncsmummy

My kids school will only authorise 10 days and then only is the children have excellent attendance in the previous 12 months. I took my eldest out of school for 5 days the year before last and had to have a meeting with the head to be lectured about taking them out of school but she did then authrise it and I had no problems.

clarabella23

Shes been 5 since last Feb i'm afraid!
I think I am going to find an address and appeal this, simply because of the fact that they were allowed so many holidays the previous school year, and tht is when I booked the holiday. I did go over the specified allowance, I know, but I tried to do it at an age where it would have the least effect on her schooling, we read and did maths puzzles while away, and let everyone know.
Oh well, can't please everyone, and I would still have done it knowing I would get a fine!

Curious_George_2

at my DDs school its all about wether the head gives permission or not, and then its only for 10 days for the whole term..

if the head says no, and you go anyway you get fined...
you just said the head said no to your three week holiday and you went regardless...surely having a fine letter turn up wasnt that unexpected??