term time school hols (yes, again!)

helen81_2

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. Weve decided to go on the holiday as planned and just pay the fine then forget it and move on. It would cost us more to cancel and lose the deposit. In regards to moving the hol to another date and pay an admin charge..We would only move it to during the summer hols and theres up to £1500 price increase in the same holiday!!

The head of school is usually a nice lady,she was really nice to me over the phone..said she can't authorise the extra 6 days,and unfortunately its out of her hands! I had already explained on the holiday form where we are going and how educational it will be so this had no effect. She also said that because the unathorised absences are so many it automatically alerts whoever and then a FPN gets sent out.

Live n learn eh

helen81_2

Spendless, going at the start of the next school year is a NO NO as my youngest who is at nursery now will go into reception class in September and I don't feel its right or good for him to be taken out for a holiday as he's finding his feet in a brand new class not to mention full time days (he only goes mornings at the mo)

Not sure about May,could be an option,although very short notice so would need to do some juggling about,then theres OH who might not be allowed to change his time off at work. I think the best thing to do now Ive had time to think it through is go on the hol as planned and enjoy it,knowing it'l be the last cheap hol we have for a very long time! Also,it's OH's 30th birthday while we are away so we will enjoy it!

Thanks for the info about October hols..I will look into it.

Helen x

Spendless

helen81 wrote: »

Spendless, going at the start of the next school year is a NO NO as my youngest who is at nursery now will go into reception class in September and I don't feel its right or good for him to be taken out for a holiday as he's finding his feet in a brand new class not to mention full time days (he only goes mornings at the mo)


Thanks for the info about October hols..I will look into it.

Helen x

That's the same circs as me youngest starting f-time school in Sept currently at morning nursery so do understand and it's why we went out of school in Sept last year before she started nursery and why we have a knock on effect of a holiday in the following year hence my happiness at finding a cheap holiday Oct half term. Just noticed your location, I'm also in Yorkshire so do look up your Oct half term hols as you might find you've got same week hols as here.

helen81_2

Oct hols at my kids school starts 19th Oct

Helen x

andycarmi

I work in a school and parents do get visits and fined. They even get the children into school if there at the house.

Also I worked in a creche in a large shopping centre and we have to call LA Socail Services if a child comes in of school age in term time. Also the local shopping mall has staff in their own clothes that stop people with school age children and fineds tham and also reports them.

So its not just schools.

Spendless

andycarmi wrote: »

Also I worked in a creche in a large shopping centre and we have to call LA Socail Services if a child comes in of school age in term time. Also the local shopping mall has staff in their own clothes that stop people with school age children and fineds tham and also reports them.

So its not just schools.

So how do they know it's not a teacher training day(we've had remote ones before not tagged onto hols) or the school is shut that day (had that happen with no heating, and a nearby school when they had a leak) or they are from a different county thathas different half-terms.

Or you are just reported and assummed guilty and have to plead innocence. And what about people who home educate?

chergar

Is this an English thing I live in Scotland and have never heard of fines for keeping children off school for a holiday. My ds starts school in August but my mum works in a school and has never mentioned this to me.

bunty109

chergar wrote: »

Is this an English thing I live in Scotland and have never heard of fines for keeping children off school for a holiday. My ds starts school in August but my mum works in a school and has never mentioned this to me.

I think Scotland is different. My in-laws are taking their children out of school for 3 weeks and the school hasn't said anything <don't get me started on this!!! LOL>

kaykay_2

Hapless wrote: »

Every child has a right to be educated in accordance to their parents wishes.(human rights act)


*my children would be at school but no school educates them to my wishes*

Your right - the law doesnt saw a child has to attend school it says a child has to be educated in accordance with their age, aptitude etc etc, but the law does say that if a child is on a school roll they should attend school regularly.
I dont think that one/two weeks holiday in school time necessarily has a detrimental effect on a childs education, i think there are enriching experiences to be had abroad and in this country but there are some parents who do not place emphasis on education/attendance at all and unfortunately it is those parents who spoil it for the rest of us. Because at the end of the day the government want bums on seats and pressurising the concientious parents who do think twice is a way of acheiving some improvement.

andycarmi

Spendless wrote: »

So how do they know it's not a teacher training day(we've had remote ones before not tagged onto hols) or the school is shut that day (had that happen with no heating, and a nearby school when they had a leak) or they are from a different county thathas different half-terms.

Or you are just reported and assummed guilty and have to plead innocence. And what about people who home educate?

We had to tell parents/carers that Social services require us to ask why the child isn't in school and that infomation will be passed onto them.

Like you say one child was from Ireland and one from America on a holiday and some children were on off due to a teacher training days... we still passed on this info with the reason.

We also had children in who had SEN and only went to school part time and that info had to be recored too.