Mum taken to court over son's 'term-time holiday'

sloppychops

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/topstories/display.var.1197468.0.mum_taken_to_court_over_sons_termtime_holiday.php

richardw

Sounds like they are making an example of her.

I wonder if they would bother if it was 3 or 4 consecutive school days missed?

alijolly

To be honest I think it would be interesting to look at just how many other days off this child has had. I know in the authority I work in, they wouln't even look at unauthorised absences until the children have missed 20% of their schooling.

richardw

Is it the number of total school days in the year or because 5 consecutive school days were taken?

itsakidsworld

I like one of the replies in the article from France where they state that the Country is divided into three sections who each have different holidays so that the travel companies cannot raise prices!! Maybe we should look at that in this Country?

Bossyboots

itsakidsworld wrote:

I like one of the replies in the article from France where they state that the Country is divided into three sections who each have different holidays so that the travel companies cannot raise prices!! Maybe we should look at that in this Country?

In our area the half terms have already been split across the counties. My brothers' children were all off school last week but my borough has half term this week. There are also now some large differences in the main holidays so obviously some counties are addressing the issues as far as they can by offsetting the "usual" dates.

3plus1

The boy is six. What exactly did he miss that was so important?

I know I never learned anything at primary school - the only reason why I didn't turn out stupid, was because my family taught me how to read, write and do maths. Although perhaps that was just a case of my particular school being a bit rubbish...

angel

We have had different half terms in neighbouring Croydon and Bromley this year. Me and my sister usually take our children out together during the holidays and couldn't this time.

samcat_2

It sounds as though the only reason she ended up in court, is that she asked the School for permission (they said no). It was this that bought it to their attention.

Alfie_E

One of the criteria that helped to put the UK at the bottom of the UNICEF report on child well-being was our adversarial culture. Fortunately, you’d never suspect that the UK had an officious and adversarial culture from that report.

Dumyat

my kids missed the last few days of the summer term - I sent a letter in explaining and got a warning letter back. if my kids had been "sick" I wouldnt have been told off. I felt I had been penalised for being upfront and telling the truth. they have more or less perfect attendance all year. I wouldnt take them out in the middle of a term.