Fined for holiday in school time

DevilsAdvocate1

Last school year I requested just 1 day off school for 2 of my children and was REFUSED. One of the dinner nannies at school took her 2 children out for 2 weeks (as the same time as my refusal) and was allowed. Thought this was particularly bad as this dinner nannie often takes them out as they have a villa abroad. And not only that, the dinner nannie also works in the school as a teaching assistant. So the school lost her for 2 weeks in term time too. I was quite upset by this.

I still took them out for the day, despite the refusal. But it put my husband in a bad mood and ruined the weekend (he's a worrier). I noticed on the school report it was marked down as authorised, despite the letter I was given.

I have heard that some schools round here are fining people if their children are off ill too. I think this is very dodgy, especially as the schools don't unsually want them in school if they are ill. I wonder how long before someone challenges it?

I think its the usual thing of seeing a problem (truants) and then finding a way of changing the statistics by getting people who would comply to do so (rather than getting the true truants back to school, which is a lot harder to accomplish). The powers that be can then congratulate themselves on how many more school days are achieved, though the real truants still aren't at school.

D.

milliebear00001

clarabella23 wrote: »

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.

You 'knew' you were entitled to take 10 day's holiday in term time, but you actually took your daughter out for three, so clearly, your request would always have been declined. Schools do have different discretionary policies re. termtime hols. The most common seems to be 10 days

milliebear00001

bylromarha wrote: »

It is up to the parents.

Take them in term time and get a fine or take them in school holiday time and don't.

Or home school them, and make all the rules yourself.

jennypdolphin

jamespir wrote: »

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

Oh what rubbish. yes they will partake in craft activities such as those mentioned BUT at age 5 children are still learning to read, write, count, calculate and so on. They are also developing personal and social skills and learning about other cultures (contrary to belief the last week or so of each half term is not JUST DVDs - there may be an odd film or so but they will still otherwise be learning (whether it be in watching/partaking in dramatic enterprises, finding out about a range of religions and cultures, writing (even writing cards will be developing spelling, handwriting, use of a range of genre etc))

3 weeks is a long time out of school at any age!!

pipkin71

milliebear00001 wrote: »

Or home school them, and make all the rules yourself.

:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j

theboylard

I'm sat reading this and I'm thinking, what on earth is going on?

The child is FIVE for god's sake, not 16 and sitting exams!
Sorry, but I have to say that again, that's 5 years old.
You know, likes cbeebies, dresses up in Mum's clothes and plays with imaginary friends, loves dolls and especially loves Disney!
Those 3 weeks missed, contrary to some of the comments posted here, are not the massive void in her life that she'll forever berate her Mum for, restricting her academic progress thus ruining her career options, they will be happy times that she'll treasure for many years.

Maybe I'm getting a hint of jealousy, but mostly I'm getting a blinkered view of the world, one that accepts that what the Government says, we must all do, whether it betters us, or in this case deprives us, of the basic right to decide how we raise our children.

How has the need for parents to be fined for taking kids out of school occurred?
One poster said it earlier, to try and combat truancy.
This wasn't truancy, plain and simple.

I think that the thought of Mum being in trouble with the school for taking her to Disneyland is more likely to damage the girl than any 3 week period of absence!

I'm off to bed, shaking my head and thinking, I know so many teachers, they don't all think like this do they?!!
I'll ask tomorrow, maybe I'll report back!

OP - Every penalty has a right of appeal, if you have not been advised of such, then they'll have difficulty enforcing said penalty.
You state that the headteacher had said you would be contacted by an LEA officer?
Instead you've just been hit with a fine?
Am I the only one who's thinking dodgy car clamping tactics here?

Becles

gabyjane wrote: »

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

At our primary, the parent helpers work with children who have been absent to help them catch up. I used to do this before I had my youngest.

cakeordeath_2

I think that family holidays are an invaluable part of a child's upbringing, socially, emotionally and educationally and if I cannot afford to take my children where we would like to go during school holidays then I will take them during school time. I'd rather pay the fine than have them miss such an important time during their childhood.
Saying that though, if it was me I think I'd write to the LEA challenging their fine and pointing out how the holiday has enriched the life of such a young child and attributed to their 'education' not detracted from it. I'd also point out that the headteacher had informed me that she didn't want to authorise the absence and told me that she would be passing it on to the LEA would be in contact, but after having heard nothing from the LEA had made the decision that the holiday would be beneficial to my daughter's upbringing.
Judging by the way the schools policies vary I don't think the LEA has a set 'rule' on this and would take each case on merit.

anonymousie

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

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

Sorry don't understand this comment- children who are educated in school are required to be at school.....

gabyjane

*Vikki* wrote: »

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!!

Lol i agree with this! the last 3 days my dd and my mindees have taken dvd's, nintendos etc in..no work done then hey?! what are the teachers doing then..pointless imo.