term time school hols (yes, again!)

veryskint_3

helen81 wrote: »

Hi,
Almost every year since my daughter started school we have taken the full 10 days authorised absence for a holiday in term time. She is now in year 4 (age 9) and myself and hubby have both agreed that this year will be the last time we do this as we feel her education is too important to miss the nearer to secondry school she gets.

So anyway..wev'e got a 2 week holiday booked for the last week in June/1st week July so am asking for 10 days off,she's already had 6 at the beggining of September so they will only authorise 4 days. I am not planning to dispute this as I know this is standard proceedure. We have been warned of a fixed penalty notice coming in the post if we go ahead and take her out of school on those dates..does this come after the child has been absent them dates? Is it £50 for all regions? And what are the consequences of the penalty for my daughter? I mean..will she have a big black mark on her school record forever?

We are undecided as to cancel the holiday (lose only the deposit I think) or go anyway,pay the fine with no argument and never do it again. Like I said earlier,it was already decided that this time will be the last time we take her on holiday in term time,infact,we are already saving up to pay for next years holiday, in the summer holidays.

If recieving the penalty notice is going to have a huge affect I think the only thing to do is cancel holday, what do you think?

I don't know if it will make any difference to the amount of people slating me but my daughter is top of the class teachers pet kind of student,never in trouble,excellent attendance record since starting school.

Helen x

The 10 days off school IS at the heads descretion as my daughters secondary school will not allow ANY days off for hols only in exceptional circumstances. The education authority would normally fine you but if you can prove you or your husband cannot take the time off in school holidays they are usually understanding. As for the big black mark i can honestly say i doubt it very much. When my daughter was in junior school we had the 10 days every year and no-one mentioned it at the secondary school. Dont cancel the holiday it would be cheaper to pay the fine and if your daughter is doing well at school then go for it!!:D

Carmina_Piranha_3

RHemmings wrote: »

It would be better, I think, to have school holidays at different times for different schools. There would definitely be some additional planning for individual schools, but would solve other problems as well. For example, parents who work part time wouldn't all disappear from the workplace at once. There wouldn't suddenly be large numbers of kids out and about during the day all at once, and other advantages.

hmmm, i wouldn't want my kid in a stuffy baking hot classroom in august though!

helen81_2

Just to let you know,we DID go on the planned holiday and we had a bloody good time!! Oh and then the fine came in the post 3 weeks later and I paid it with a smile.
Wouldn't do it now though,now I have my youngest there now aswell.
Helen x

tonydee

Carmina_Piranha wrote: »

hmmm, i wouldn't want my kid in a stuffy baking hot classroom in august though!

What about the hot stuffy days we get in May, June, July or even today in September?