Taking children out of school a week before summer hols as I am disabled.

leosayer39

gingergee wrote: »

Im disabled and have two children with different "problems". I was really poorly and my support worker arranged for us to have a charity funded break to centre parcs (only and hour or so from home), She asked the schools permission to book during term time as it would be cheaper for the charity. School let us have 5 days quite happily, even told us to have a great time!.
That 5 day break, somewhere quiet enabled me to spend some really quality time with my older ones, who dont have it easy really. They got to handle BOP and learn to swim. I also benefited as i have been a lot better since we returned and have developed a strong PMA.
Next year i am going to book a holiday abroad for us, but in the holidays. I am also looking into fundraising for the charity, as are my eldest girls. Sometimes taking them out can be a good thing. But it needs to be balanced against other factors ie how well they are doing in school, exams, etc. x

I do not begrudge you a holiday at all. I do not begrudge anyone a holiday in term time.

My gripe is that at the school which my grandchildren attend seems to have very different policies.
The headteachers position is that holidays are forbidden during term time.
However, the same headteacher also actually allows holidays of between 10 and 20 days for some pupils..and yet refuses 5 days for my grandchildren.
Incidently, they are never late and only have the odd day sick from time to time.

leosayer39

annie1975 wrote: »

Some times family's can only get away in school time.
A friend of mine her husband could not get time off when kids were off school,company was too busy.The school in question did allow 10 days anyway...

I have no objection to holidays during term time.
All I am asking for is a level playing field!

paddedjohn

leosayer39 wrote: »

I have no objection to holidays during term time.
All I am asking for is a level playing field!

take your grandkids on hols without authorisation and refuse to pay the fine, let the head explain their inequality to a court.;)

leosayer39

paddedjohn wrote: »

take your grandkids on hols without authorisation and refuse to pay the fine, let the head explain their inequality to a court.;)

actually that could be a very good idea, although it would be up to my grandchildrens parents to see if they wish to take on the school.
thanks for your input

sunnyone

gingergee wrote: »

Im disabled and have two children with different "problems". I was really poorly and my support worker arranged for us to have a charity funded break to centre parcs (only and hour or so from home), She asked the schools permission to book during term time as it would be cheaper for the charity. School let us have 5 days quite happily, even told us to have a great time!.
That 5 day break, somewhere quiet enabled me to spend some really quality time with my older ones, who dont have it easy really. They got to handle BOP and learn to swim. I also benefited as i have been a lot better since we returned and have developed a strong PMA.
Next year i am going to book a holiday abroad for us, but in the holidays. I am also looking into fundraising for the charity, as are my eldest girls. Sometimes taking them out can be a good thing. But it needs to be balanced against other factors ie how well they are doing in school, exams, etc. x

Isnt your wedding booked for next year to a long haul destination?

And at a bargain basement price for the six of you too, well under 3K for an all inclusive holiday and you also claim to be travelling first class on this holiday :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

mrs_sparrow

paddedjohn wrote: »

take your grandkids on hols without authorisation and refuse to pay the fine, let the head explain their inequality to a court.;)

I agree, you could also write to the school and ask them why your holiday has been refused when other kids are having 20 days off and see what their reply is. You could them direct your concerns about this to the LEA.

However, before you do this you need to be absolutely 110% certain that these parents are having their holidays authorised. We are going on a respite holiday next year, it is in term time as we are going overseas for it (they do not offer anything like it in the UK) and there was only certain times we could choose - all of them were in term time because US holidays do not run the same as ours and authorised or not, we will be going. So it might look to others that we will have an authorised holiday but actually, we will not. They have not given us one day authorised for the paralympics, they are not going to give us 10 days!!

Our school have no fining policy, I have read up on this and they can only fine if the school has a clear set out policy that advises of such and ours does not. While the school gives the fine, it is the LEA's job to collect the fine, so if you do not pay it, it is the LEA that will take you to court, not the school, and you can then go argue your case there. They also have to make it clear about after how many days they will fine.

mrs_sparrow

leosayer39 wrote: »

I can t see a problem with it either, however the school can see a problem!

The prospective fine of £50.00, per day, per child, and also per parent, is a huge problem for our children. (Its their kids, ie our grandkids, we want to take away on holiday).

Leo Sayer - do they have this fining policy clearly set out or have they been told by letter?

Please note: The local authority must publish a local code of conduct which sets out how the penalty notice scheme will work for all schools in the area. Write and ask for it as per DfE guidelines, however, it should be on their website and clear and accessible to all. If they do not have this policy then let the school 'fine' you as the school will not be taking you to court, the LEA does.

http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport/behaviour/attendance/a00208166/penalty-notices

Also, please read this to ensure that penalties are being issued lawfully:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/1867/contents/made

Pay particular attention to sections 3, 9, 14 and 23.

Again, it is the LEA that is fining, not the school, so ALL schools in the area must have the same policy. If there is no fining policy in place in a neighbouring school then write and challenge the school. If you do not pay and they have not started proceedings within 42 days then the fine is withdrawn.

Some schools are using the threat of these fines to scare parents from taking their children out of school and the threat is unlawful can cannot be imposed - how many parents would challenge such a threat or just pay it without disputing it if it meant they got a cheaper holiday - so double check everything and challenge it if need be.

If your school/LEA has a high number of children that are removed for these religious holidays then this is probably why the fining policy is in place, as they will have a high number of absences and will want to keep as many children in school as possible.

It could also be that the parents of the other kids know that the fines are unlawful and so just take the kids away anyway. No doubt those parents will say that they did not want Xmas/Easter holidays imposed onto their children and they are taking their children to celebrate their Religious holidays so the LEA will not challenge them or impose the fine for fear of them being called racist or discriminating against their religious beliefs. However, if you can find out and be sure that they have their holidays authorised or they have been fined and it not followed through then you can challenge the fine on these grounds also.

Hope this helps.

Richie-from-the-Boro

From next month the fines go up.

Not only the LEA, but a police constable, local authority officer, headteachers and those authorised by them [deputy and assistant head only] can issue penalty notices, this applies to maintained, academies, Free Schools, alternative provision and pupil referral units in England. The local authority must publish a local code of conduct which sets out how the penalty notice scheme will work for all schools in the area. The fine goes up next month to £50 to £60 for those who pay within 28 days, and from £100 to £120 for those who pay within 42 days, the revised regs are here.

All state schools can use penalty notices including maintained, academies, Free Schools, alternative provision and pupil referral units in England. The local authority must publish a local code of conduct which sets out how the penalty notice scheme will work for all schools in the area. It above applies to any parent who fails to ensure the regular attendance of their child of compulsory school age (5-16) who is registered at a state school or fails to ensure that their excluded child is not found in a public place during schools hours without a justifiable reason.

Registers would be marked as follows:

“H” for authorised family holiday, up to 10 school days
“F” for authorised extended leave (beyond 10 days)
“G” for unauthorised holiday/leave of absence

There are around 190 school days in a year, almost the same as the 175 days left available to you for for holidays / cultural / activities and family time. There are no prescribed 'reasons' however one exception is made as 'Ellej' in this thread knows - that where """families needing to spend time together to support each other during or after a crisis """ So in the old rules 100% of the decision making is with the head and in the new rules its no different. Its only in the area of 'over 10 days - extended leave of absence' that the SoS issues guidance to the head. Additionally in the old rules and in next months new rules the SoS directive to the Head clearly states :

As a rule, requests made for reasons such as availability of inexpensive holidays, availability of desired accommodation, or poor weather experienced during school holiday periods should not be authorised. The fact of the matter is leosayer39 does indeed have a level playing field, his daughter asked and was refused. Others asked and were given authority based on the Heads judgement .. .. that is a level playing field.

OneYorkshireLass

sunnyone wrote: »

Isnt your wedding booked for next year to a long haul destination?

And at a bargain basement price for the six of you too, well under 3K for an all inclusive holiday and you also claim to be travelling first class on this holiday :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Nice post ...

As I'm sure you are well aware sunnyone, illnesses and peoples' financial situations can change.

mrs_sparrow

OneYorkshireLass wrote: »

Nice post ...

As I'm sure you are well aware sunnyone, illnesses and peoples' financial situations can change.

The post quoted referred to the fact that poster had been given a break funded by a charity for her 2 son's and the CHARITY has requested that it be taken during term time so it is cheaper for them.

Just because someone books an all inclusive break elsewhere for 3k, that does not stop a charity giving a family a break if they think they are entitled to one and they meet the criteria for funding.

I also know of people who holiday annually in places like Florida but also get money given to them from the Family Fund for a UK break.

I might also add that one years DLA or mobility would be £2.5k - they have 2 children so maybe they would get double this. If they choose to save their DLA money and go overseas with the money for a well deserved break then that is entirely their choice. Maybe the sun makes their condition better or maybe they want a weeks respite from their problems at home. It is their money, they are entitled to it and they can do whatever they want with it - even if it does not meet your approval.

Your post was incredibly spiteful for some bizarre reason (maybe jealousy!).