New £60 Fines For Taking Children On Holiday During School Term (No 10 Days Grace)!

mew

I have just found out today that government has introduced new legislation (Starting September 2013) which prohibits any time of school for family holidays (or other absences from school, such as visiting family etc). Unlike their existing restrictive legislation which allows 10 days authorised absence at headteachers discretion, from September, only absences for extraordinary circumstances will be allowed.

The new fines will be £60 per child and per carer if paid within 21 days (reduced from their current 28 days), doubled if you pay within 42 days and a court appearance if you fail to pay. So take your average family of 2 adults and two kids who dare to take their kids out of school for a holiday would face a fine of £240!

I know a lot of people will agree with the new rules or but they are totally unfair compared to the previous rules. Under the previous rules, a headteacher could make a fair decision on granting an authorised absence based on the individual child and impact on thee school.

For anybody who dislikes a the new rules,the is an existing e-petition on the governments website here: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/49640

balletshoes

theres already a big thread about this on the family/relationships board -

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4668061

spacey2012

They have just bankrupted the holiday industry.

jonesMUFCforever

Pay the £60 - you will still save loads.

Ask the school to pay you back when the next teachers training day is taken during term time.

Indout96

May be fine if you are an MP with all summer off but if you work shifts where holidays are not in summer (I did for most of my childrens growing up) what do you do then other than pay the fine for working.

miamoo

Will this also apply to schools which have become an acadamy?

wallbash

Carry on moaning, in a few years your kids will have grown up ( and refuse to go on hols with you) but those who have married into the teaching profession have had thirty plus years of expensive holidays. So won't be shedding any tears on your plight.

They have just bankrupted the holiday industry.

Rubbish.

Sarahdol75

miamoo wrote: »

Will this also apply to schools which have become an acadamy?

Yes, I am afraid it will, my eldest sons has just sent us letters about this and they have been an academy for about a year now, I have just taken both of my children out of school for 10 days and they informed me that it would be the last time it would be allowed. My youngest sons school is changing to an academy in September and have issued the same letters, fortunately they sent it after I had my holiday authorised.

To be honest, it is still cheaper to pay the fines than it is to take a holiday in the 6 week holiday period.

jackieblack

Each Local Authority should have information on their website detailing the circumstances under which a penalty notice can be issued.
:cool:

phillo365

Do they really fine parents or is just a threat ? Is the fine enforceable and where does the money go ? Not trying to score points just asking.

peachyprice

Yes, they do, my LEA issued 250 penalty notices last year.