Holiday in term time not authorised, will I be fined?

wannabehermit

We managed to book a pretty cheap holiday for the last week of May next year (traditionally May half term). When we go away it always tends to be this week as it is much cheaper than going in Summer and booking early enough gets a pretty good deal. May half term is always the last week of May - the same week as the last bank holiday Monday in May.

So we book it, then at the end of last term we are given the term dates. The bank holiday has been moved to the beginning of June as has half term. Holiday has already been booked. On the 1st day of term I fill in a holiday request form stating that if half term and the bank holiday hadn't been moved then it wouldn't be a problem. Not my fault that half term has been changed. As far as I'm aware Bank Hols in May have always been first Monday & last Monday of the month. God only knows why they've decided to randomly change it next year.

Yes, I know that school term dates are available for 2 years so had I looked on the LA website I would have seen that it had been changed this school year, but as it's always been that week I didn't expect them to change it now. Likewise I wouldn't expect a bank holiday to change (except at Easter).

DS2 had the reply back today saying that it has not been authorised and I cannot take him out of school. Well I will be as it's booked and I'm not changing it. It's not as though I've deliberately booked it during term time, they only have to look at his and ds1s record and see that they have never had absences apart from health reasons and ds1 has had most years with 100% attendance so it's not exactly as though I make a habit of it. I haven't yet had the reply for ds1 but as it's the junior part of ds2s infant with the same head I would imagine the answer will be the same.

I remember reading some time ago about parents being fined (quite a significant amount if iirc) if they took their children out of school for a holiday, was this scaremongering or does it really happen? WOuld I be able to appeal it if they did fine me as they changed the term dates?

Having just looked on website, 2012-13 half term is back to last week of May.

adouglasmhor

You have to be taken to court to be fined, school cna't just do it. Very unlikely to be fined a stroppy letter will be my guess.

Seanymph

you'll be fine.
The school isn't authorising it because they aren't allowed to any more - they are accountable for anything they authorise. So, they have toed the line but in reality it means nothing except for they won't get in trouble.
You have to be a very persistent offender before the LEA gets involved, and go through endless hoops, meetings, return to school negotiations ad infinitum before you get to court. Then the court probably won't fine you anyway.
*as a governor absenteeism was one of my responsibilities *

Mrs.W_2

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8514805/Almost-half-of-all-parents-take-children-out-of-school-to-save-money-on-holidays.html

The above is a link to an article in today's Telegraph online.

Telegraph wrote:

"At present, schools can fine parents up to £100 for taking children on holiday during the term. This is cut to £50 if paid within 28 days and some parents are prepared to accept the cost if they can save a greater amount on an off-peak holiday."

ETA: Here's the Directgov link to the laws on unapproved absense from school...

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Schoolslearninganddevelopment/YourChildsWelfareAtSchool/DG_066966

DizzyDizzy

Bank holiday has been changed to June next year because of the Jubilee - we will get a bank holiday Monday & Tuesday. Not sure when this was changed though - I think it may have been fairly recently?

Sounds a bit harsh if they have previously had an excellent attendance records. My DD school always let her have a week off in June to attend Glastonbury festival (I plug the arts & crafts for kids & the life experience lol!) I guess different schools have different rules.

Are you going abroad? Sounds like you may have to just call in sick. I don't know what the fines would be, sorry I'm no help at all really !

Newly_retired

"The spring bank holiday, also called late May bank holiday, usually falls on the last Monday of May every year. In 2012 however, an extra-special occasion is the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. To mark the event, 5 June 2012 will be a special additional bank holiday. Additionally, the spring bank holiday will be moved to 4 June 2012, enabling a 4-day long weekend across the UK. (Readers may recall that 2002 was the other exception, when there was special bank holiday on 3 June to mark the Golden Jubilee of the Queen, and the spring bank holiday was moved to 4 June that year) "
It was fixed as the last Monday in May in 1971, but there are exceptions - as above.
ALthough you should have checked before booking, I can't imagine there will be too much of an issue on this occasion in the circumstances.
But don't try it once they are at secondary school- you could miss exam time and that WILL be frowned on.
As a former teacher, I am on the school's side. Education is provided and the children should be there, not on holiday.
Teachers can only take holidays at the expensive school holiday times.

Spendless

I don't know if fines vary area to area, but here it is £50 per parent per child. My area does fine but I doubt they'd do it for a one-off incident such as you describe, and yes it's been changed plus an additional day for the Queen's Jubilee. It was announced a year or 2 ago. Didn't you suspect anything when the holiday came up cheap?

eeeeeee

well this is fuel for the fire ... ive just booked 2 weeks ... 7/12/11 - 21//12/11 ... there is no worries at the school my kids are in what so ever even tho this means that they wont be back too the new year ... this shows that schools make it up this rule as they go along and that this is not a reinforceable law ;the only criteria you have too meet is that this isnt due too financial reasons ; my nature of work was my excuse ... maybe its just the way you have worded it too the school ' legally they cant stop you ... and its better too be honest than say your kid has been off sick for 2 weeks ,,, then comes back with a tan

rachbc

eeeeeee wrote: »

well this is fuel for the fire ... ive just booked 2 weeks ... 7/12/11 - 21//12/11 ... there is no worries at the school my kids are in what so ever even tho this means that they wont be back too the new year ... this shows that schools make it up this rule as they go along and that this is not a reinforceable law ;the only criteria you have too meet is that this isnt due too financial reasons ; my nature of work was my excuse ... maybe its just the way you have worded it too the school ' legally they cant stop you ... and its better too be honest than say your kid has been off sick for 2 weeks ,,, then comes back with a tan

Maybe if your kids missed less school the could teach you the correct usage of too/ to...

kingfisherblue

What happens when a child goes to visit a family abroad for several months? I know one child who went in July and won't return until November.

onlyroz

How old are your children? I'm struggling to believe that somebody could book a holiday for "half term" without checking the dates.