Long Holiday and child school

MrsDrink

sarah_id1 wrote: »

She is not going to miss anything terribly.

I'm sure most teachers would be insulted to be told that they don't teach anything worth while in two whole weeks.

bylromarha

Pray for snow?

FBaby

I have to say I am quite interested in the legal aspect of these fines. I have no intentions of taking my kids out of school for the time being, and can't imagine considering 2 weeks off even if I did, but I would like to know the legal purpose of the fines.

Say school fines £50 a day per child, so potentially £1,000 for two kids. Parents refuse to pay, school (or is it LA?) takes parents to court. What evidence would a judge consider? Just the rules imposed by the school which might have been agreed without any proper consultation? Or would the judge consider the actual implication of the 2 weeks holiday on the children and the school?

For instance, if the school couldn't show any evidence that it disrupted them, and the kids happen to be both gifted and talented and actually not stimulated enough by the school in every day life, so that them missing two weeks would have more of an impact on their education that what the miss from not being challenged to their level in all the years they are at the school?

It doesn't sound right to be to impose fines for the sake of it, just like I wouldn't support the right for parents to fine their school if they don't provide the education appropriate to their own child.

Spendless

FBaby wrote: »

I have to say I am quite interested in the legal aspect of these fines. I have no intentions of taking my kids out of school for the time being, and can't imagine considering 2 weeks off even if I did, but I would like to know the legal purpose of the fines.

Say school fines £50 a day per child, so potentially £1,000 for two kids. Parents refuse to pay, school (or is it LA?) takes parents to court. What evidence would a judge consider? Just the rules imposed by the school which might have been agreed without any proper consultation? Or would the judge consider the actual implication of the 2 weeks holiday on the children and the school?

For instance, if the school couldn't show any evidence that it disrupted them, and the kids happen to be both gifted and talented and actually not stimulated enough by the school in every day life, so that them missing two weeks would have more of an impact on their education that what the miss from not being challenged to their level in all the years they are at the school?

I do remember a thread in DT. It's a long time ago though, so my memory may be a bit shaky, but it was along the lines of their teenager daughter had been groomed and though it hadn't gone too far the parent felt the child needed a holiday for their emotional well-being and took the child out of school (whether this was due to timing or affordability I don't remember) without it being authorised. It went to court for the parent (the OP of the thread) to pay the fine and the OP came back later to say the 'judge' had thrown the case out.

BTW- I googled after OP said fines were £50 x day and I haven't found any authority so far that mentions this. Many talk about a £50 fine without clarifying how or when this would kick in.

mountainofdebt

sarah_id1 wrote: »

What about people who belong to China/India. They would always prefer a holiday for 3 to 4 weeks at least to spend time with their loved ones back home. How can a school penalise these people and stop them have good time with friends, family, grant parents etc etc...

the authorities don't .....they provide a 6 week break so that holidays of 3/4 weeks can be accommodated.

taffy1969

I work in a school as an Attendance Officer. It is not the school that fines parents but the LA. Authorised hoidays are at the discretion of the headteacher. If you have a legitimate reason, not money then I'm sure the school will take this into account. If your holiday is unauthorised and your child's attendnace is good your attendance figures will be sent to the County Attendance Improvement Officer who, after consultation with the school, will issue a Notice. You and anyone else with Parental Responsibility will receive one. The letter will state that if your child has anymore unauthorised time off school then you will all be charged £50 each. There is a length of time given on the letter, I think it is 16 weeks, not 100% sure on the length of time(this is for no more unauthorised time).

I hope I have made sense.

ellay864

If you're planning a long holiday it suggests you are prepared to either pay quite a bit for it (either long haul flight to somewhere more 'exotic'/paying for more accommodation), or are staying with friends/family. If it's the former then tbh I don't see why you should complain. If you are staying with friends/family, especially if it's for any kind of occasion, then I'd definitely try talking to the school. I know my son's friend got exemption to take a longer period out to go visit family in Australia, and our school do usually implement the fines for absence