Term time holiday fine question.

squashy

Hi,
It depends if you both have parental responsibility. If she lives with you then that could be presumed. The non-resident parent may also be fined too.

So in your case, the two adults in your household will receive 3 fines of £60 each, rising to £120 if not paid within the period (28 days but could be 21 days), so £360. With a potential £60 for the other household too.

It is still worth writing a letter to the school to document the reason for absence as they will not look kindly on it if you just fail to turn up for a fortnight. There is a slim chance that some exceptional circumstance will result in the absence being authorised, but this is harder than ever to prove.

lolamancity

Interesting reading this thread....
My son has just started reception. By all accounts, is flying away top of the class.... BUT, now his terrible mother is going to tarnish his reputation by dragging he and his baby brother (different dad) out of school at the end of Jan for a week (Mon to Fri)

Now, I have two questions. I know its been touched on a bit already in this thread, but my sons father and I are divorced (being finalised in the next week). I am the resident parent, he has him on a Friday night each week. Obviously this isn't really the schools business to know, so seeing as he's only attended for a few months so far, I don't think it's officially known that i'm a single parent.

I've seen it mentioned as pretty much fact now, that both parents get fined £60. I'm happy to pay the £60. However, his dad will not, nor should have to, pay £60 as this holiday has absolutely nothing to do with him, nor does it even affect his access arrangements (my son will be back by Friday night) My boyfriend doesn't live with me (long story) but my son (to my ex) idolises him and has probably spoke about him a lot at school (they do 'show & tell' for example)... is he going to get fined aswell..? he's not his 'parent', his dad is. Regardless of my mixed up family situation, my sons school surely can't fine either of them (ex or boyfriend)...surely my ballsed up life is none of their business!

Second question.... I haven't broached this issue with the school yet, as I wanted to get my facts straight, PLUS I'm a huge anxious scardy cat. I found some blurb on their website stating that you have to request absence in writing to the headteacher. You'll then have to attend a hearing in front of her and a governer. Now, firstly, this is well OTT in my opinion. But secondly, what's the point? there's no way on earth my request will ever be granted, so why on earth in my ropey mental state would I put myself through having to beg a panel of unamused unsympathetic serious people for something they are 110% going to say no to. This being the case, how do you approach the actual act of taking a child out of school? do i write a letter stating my intentions to his teacher well in advance, or do I be gutless and do it the Friday before the Monday I take him away? or do I speak to one of the receptionist people behind the glass in their little office at the front of school even though they don't know me or my child.. or do I address I letter stating what i'm doing to the headteacher (but that seems to me that by telling the headteacher you're doing something they refuse to allow, you're almost bragging iyswim!) I'd quite like some school work to take with us, but don't know how to approach that either "I know you're totally opposed to me taking him out of school, do not condone it or accept it in anyway shape or form,... but pretty please can I have some homework to take with us"?

Bloody minefield this school lark already!

FTR...I booked this holiday (Center Parcs a year ago, way before these new super strict rules were enforced, hence my new panic about it all!)

alwaysonthego_2

When is your son five? Children do not legally have to be in school until a term before their fifth birthday

lolamancity

Typically..... September! flipping oldest in the class as well as the self-proclaimed most intelligent (modest to boot )

onlyroz

lolamancity wrote: »

Interesting reading this thread....
My son has just started reception. By all accounts, is flying away top of the class.... BUT, now his terrible mother is going to tarnish his reputation by dragging he and his baby brother (different dad) out of school at the end of Jan for a week (Mon to Fri)

If your son isn't yet statutory school age then you can take him out of school whenever you want. I took my son out of school for a week when he was in reception but hadn't yet turned 5.

Edit - just read your post above...

maman

lolamancity wrote: »

Typically..... September! flipping oldest in the class as well as the self-proclaimed most intelligent (modest to boot )

To be honest I think you'd have a bit of a cheek asking for work when he's missing school to go on holiday! I'd suggest you get him to read regularly to you while you're away and also perhaps keep some sort of scrapbook/diary.

Obviously you decided that you were going to take him out of school and all that's bothering you now is the fine. I'd suggest you write to the Headteacher (and hand the letter in at Reception) simply explaining that you need to take your child out of school for a holiday on planned dates. You might want to say that you were unaware when you booked it a year ago of changes to the rules on term time holidays. I'd just leave it at that and sign it in your own name. If a fine is imposed then you'll have to pay up. If they send one for his father then take it back and say that you're separated/divorced (school does need to know some of your business here particularly as your boyfriend/ex could collect son from school at some point). I'd be surprised if they pursued him for the money. I agree the governor thing is OTT but I'm guessing it's designed to put parents off taking their children out of school in term time and someone perhaps has to back up the head in what genuinely constitutes' exceptional circumstances'.

lolamancity

Thanks so much, that's a very helpful and kind response. I'll take that route me thinks

squashy

maman wrote: »

To be honest I think you'd have a bit of a cheek asking for work when he's missing school to go on holiday! I'd suggest you get him to read regularly to you while you're away and also perhaps keep some sort of scrapbook/diary.

Obviously you decided that you were going to take him out of school and all that's bothering you now is the fine. I'd suggest you write to the Headteacher (and hand the letter in at Reception) simply explaining that you need to take your child out of school for a holiday on planned dates. You might want to say that you were unaware when you booked it a year ago of changes to the rules on term time holidays. I'd just leave it at that and sign it in your own name. If a fine is imposed then you'll have to pay up. If they send one for his father then take it back and say that you're separated/divorced (school does need to know some of your business here particularly as your boyfriend/ex could collect son from school at some point). I'd be surprised if they pursued him for the money. I agree the governor thing is OTT but I'm guessing it's designed to put parents off taking their children out of school in term time and someone perhaps has to back up the head in what genuinely constitutes' exceptional circumstances'.

I agree with most of this, however there would be no point in returning to school with the fine letter for the nrp as the letter is not issued by the school but the LA. In the eyes of the law if your ex has parental responsibility then regardless of the days access he will be seen to be condoning the child being removed from school. He may be able to appeal to the LA or ultimately the judge if it remains unpaid-bear in mind there is a risk of prosecution for both of you!

lolamancity

What if they don't know his address though? I know when I filled all the enrollment forms in for his starting school, I only put his dads street name (no house number) and phone no. as I genuinely don't know what number he lives at without driving past to look (although to be fair, its only a few streets away)

artichoke

any more experiences of fines this term? We are due to go away for a long weekend fri-mon in two weeks and i am panicking...

I took them out on the Friday before oct half term and got a letter saying next time we would get a fine..... but that holiday was booked before this new rule came in...

The december holiday is a Sun Holiday deal to Butlins Christmas Fantasy - so booked as a cheap holiday but if we get fined for 2 kids it will not be worth going... it is the last week of term so i know they will be winding down them so i thought it ok to miss a day or two...

has anyone been fined yet? I might try and sell the holiday but the kids will be disappointed as they are looking forward to it.....

art