Fined for holiday in school time

zara*elise

gabyjane wrote: »

Was it actually 3 weeks off school (21 days) or 15 days?

clarabella23 wrote: »

It was all in term time

So I can completely understand why they're giving the fine in this instance.

looby-loo_2

She's lucky she still has a place at the school. My head takes them off role when the two weeks is up if they aren't back on the correct day. The school is rated by OFSTED at outstanding and there is a waiting list so no chance of getting the place back.

Pay the fine

chumbasmum

I think that parents could try and look at the school's situation. It's a difficult task for them. Parents want to see their kids progress.

The school have to submit absense and unauthorized absense numbers to the county and they have targets to meet - they are also judged by OFSTED on these numbers.

I also don't think that we would think much if our children's teacher dissappeared off for 3 weeks on a cheaper holiday.

A bit of give and take is always good.

juicygirl

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I wish I could thank this post more than once.

Me too!!!!!!!

anonymousie

Your child is in year1 you have a whole primary career ahead of then where you have tyo deal with this schhol, my advice would be pay up and don't aquire a label as "difficult"- you will need other time off in the future and "favours" that the school don't need to grant, but may do IYSWIM.

Your child has been absent for 3 weeks, regardless of the "educational" nature of the holiday their attendence is now down to (OK I've simplifed tyhe maths, but 30+ weeks in a school year) 90%, the same as missing half a day a week. Another week or 2 for illness and they are adown to the level that serious impairs learning, and that the attendence team at the authority WILL be interested in.

Schools are not authorising holidays easily now,you don't have any "entitlement " to take them out I'm afraid.

FWIW my year 6 DD had to request just under a half day off for a music exam at 11am in another part of the city. We did get authorised leave, but accompanied by a VERY grudging letter of the "we are watching you don't do it again" sort. Made me:mad: as this was an exam realatedto music teaching she has in school and arranged by her teacher !!!! (we had no "good luck, the school is proud of you" message or anything).

I guess we'll get the same again in January when she has to have time off for entrance exams for secondary school.....Ah well...

But on a second side note, the secondary schools the older 2 attend will authorise leave for music exams cheerfuly, and we haven't had difficulties getting time out for activities of a musical nature eg radio broadcasts. THey seem much more aware of the prestige that reflects back on the school from having kids perform at high level (and also, unlike the primary the secondarys have a high ethnic mix, and I guess can't not authorise EiD leave etc)

Spendless

clarabella23 wrote: »

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

Yes, but not personal experience. My LEA do this, I have mentioned it before.

At the point you ask for a term-time holiday and it's refused - if you take no notice and go anyway you will be fined. As your letter states ignore the fine and it doubles and so on - the reason I'm aware of how much it is, is cos the fine ran into £1000s and hit the headlines of the local rag, so my advice is pay it whilst it's still a £50 bill! The info on my local council is no longer there but the wording on this used to read that the fine would be Per child, Per Parent. So your child's father may get a letter too, even if you don't live in the same house - though that will depend on your LEA.

Spendless

gabyjane wrote: »

Hmm well there is a lot of conflict over this tbh and not sure it applies in all schools? some give the child the work before hand to take away with them (my dd's school) some don't bother and let them just run through when they return..it depends on the school..personally iv'e never known a teacher sit 1 to 1 with a child and leave the other kids while helping them catch up..not sayig they don't just that my dd's school don't

Neither does my sons, when he was off week before Oct half term with suspected swine flu not for a hol and I mentioned at parents evening not long after about his weakness with fiction books, his teacher told me it was a shame he'd missed a week of schooling as they'd done about expression of language and how to set a story but she didn't have time to repeat the work with him, nor did I expect her to.

*Vikki*

Does make me laugh though, the last week before the summer holidays and christmas holidays most schools entertain the kids with dvd's. What a waste of 'education' that is. Plus all the teach training days!!

PolishBigSpender

anonymousie wrote: »

Schools are not authorising holidays easily now,you don't have any "entitlement " to take them out I'm afraid.

Shouldn't it be the parents that authorise any absence of THEIR children?

jamespir

i think its daft fining parents of five year olds what are they going to miss a few days painting or playdoh