taking children out of school for holidays in term time

ktj

Advice needed please.

We have just had a letter from my child's school saying that parent's will not be allowed to take children out of school during term time for family holidays. Whilst I know that taking children out of school for holidays is frowned upon, I was under the impression that you were allowed to take them out for upto 2 weeks a year. Does anyone know for definite what the regulations are? My husband is self employed and July and August are his busy time so we can not holiday then, instead we usually go for a fortnight that includes the spring half term week and therefore we take our child out of school for a week then to make up the fortnight. Does anyone know if the school can really prevent us from doing this? Thanks in advance to anyone who can help to clarify the position. ktj.

Oldernotwiser

You can take children out of school for a fortnight with the school's permission. The school has told you that this permission will not be forthcoming.

milliebear00001

ONW is correct. Permission to take children out of school for non essential purposes is completely at the school's discretion.

bestpud

Well, they can't physically stop you but, depending on your LEA, they may fine you.

In my area, the LEA won't step in until they've had more than 10 days off, but that includes any other time they may have for illness etc. After 10 days an EWO visits and gives a warning.

If you insist on taking them out, the least they will do is mark it as unauthorised absence.

Just depends how much you want to antagonise the school I guess...

What about an easter holiday instead? Or a week in May and another week in October perhaps?

Becles

If you write and explain why you want to take them out due to work reasons, they may give permission, but it's up to the school.

My eldest's school states no holidays in term time, but the head is approachable if you have a genuine reason. My husband couldn't get his holidays in the summer holidays so we're doing the same and going for a fortnight including May week. Once I explained it was for work reasons and not for cost reasons, the headmaster approved the holiday.

ktj

Hi, Just wanted to say thank you for your helpful and very speedy advice. Much appreciated. Ktj.

welshmoneylover

Why don't you have a week at whitsun and perhaps another holiday during half term October?

I know it costs twice as much but its one way around things.

I've booked up for half term October already

wendall

I work at a school and it is up to the heads discretion whether he authorises the holiday or not, we have quite a few parents who ring up for advice and i have advised parents to put it in writing to ask for permission for the holiday to be authorised not to tell the head you are going on holiday like some parents have, and also to suggest if you have secondary school age children whether there is any work that the school would like them to do to make up what they have missed while being off school.

LJM

we have the same arrangement and myself and partner wouldnt dream of taking our children out mid term just for a holiday though we have had to for the odd day for family reasons in the past as had a funeral on the mainland. it is frowned upon especially when the SATS start coming around again

CRANKY40

My son is in foundation and the head has agreed I can take him out for a week in June. I did have to write and explain why I wanted to do it, and they do request that once the children are doing SATS you don't take them out at that time of year.

penelopedee_2

In our area if you take secondary school children on holiday during the school term it will be refused and you will be reported - no matter how few days it is for.

Just been discussing it with a friend tonight, neither of our children are particulary academic and neither of us can really afford a peak time holiday but we are stuck with it.