Term time holiday fine question.

merlin1

I can confirm that this does indeed apply to academies - my son is also in one.

back in July I had to ring the school and find out if I could request permission for my son to miss 2/3 days at the very start of term sept 2014 so giving over a years notice, due to a holiday being booked for a week with and by my parents. I was told the head teacher is not available to ask, if I he doesn't turn up it will go down as unauthorized absence, and they couldn't tell me what would happen!

This holiday was booked by my parents in good faith for what they believed would be the last week of the summer holiday. I had planned to take him on his first trip abroad next year, he wants to go to Barcelona to see the cathedral and i could just about manage a long weekend friday to monday, but thats out now.

I am all for this legislation but one suggestion I will be making to our school is that they now start and end school terms on a monday and friday. Most hols are booked weekend to weekend regardless of the time of year and when the calendar reads - "monday x sept, first day of term (teacher training) tuesday x sept (teacher training) I find it a little unfair tbh. why not just start the term on a monday and do a full week then we all know where we stand? :rotfl:

Hazel1980

I would still like to know if it is per day or per holiday so same fine for one day or one week? Does anyone know?

Gigglepig

Interesting. I wonder if an international family going abroad due to special events such as celebrations in their country, or even family weddings etc would be an exceptional circumstance. Due to distance, it might not be an option to participate fully in one's extended family life without some flexibility. Same for people working abroad wishing to bring their family along during a shorter assignment.

Mojisola

FBaby wrote: »

Holidays are not the only reason for taking a child off school. I had to take my children off one day because we had to travel to London to renew their passport (not English) and we had no choice but to go on the day and time provided. This was authorised by both schools.

It was authorised because it wasn't a holiday - it was a situation that comes under "exceptional circumstances".

merlin1

Just following on from my earlier post, we did get a full week authorised at the end of last term due to a massive family gathering, many of came here from abroad and a lot of them my son had never met before. As far as I know if this were requested after the legislation it wouldn't have been allowed - not exceptional enough apparently.

peachyprice

Hazel1980 wrote: »

I would still like to know if it is per day or per holiday so same fine for one day or one week? Does anyone know?

It's £60 per parent, per period of unauthorised absence, rising to £120 if paid between 21-28 days, after 28 days you are liable for prosecution and if found guilty can face a fine of £2500 or 3 months in prison.

The £60 fine is an alternative to prosecution same as police fines are.

merlin1

peachyprice wrote: »

It's £60 per parent, per period of unauthorised absence, rising to £120 if paid between 21-28 days, after 28 days you are liable for prosecution and if found guilty can face a fine of £2500 or 3 months in prison.

The £60 fine is an alternative to prosecution same as police fines are.

I have taken this from the government page
"
Amendments to 2007 regulations will reduce the timescales for paying a penalty notice. Parents must, from 1 September 2013, pay £60 within 21 days or £120 within 28 days. This brings attendance penalty notices into line with other types of penalty notices and allows local authorities to act faster on prosecutions.


So I read that as per absence, so 2 days or 2 weeks, it would be the same fine is that right peachy?

peachyprice

merlin1 wrote: »

So I read that as per absence, so 2 days or 2 weeks, it would be the same fine is that right peachy?

It seems so.

Before the tightening up of this legislation a fines were implemented after a period of 10 sessions (5 days) had been missed, that seems to be missing from all the information I've seen for the changes that come in force in September.

merlin1

peachyprice wrote: »

It seems so.

Before the tightening up of this legislation a fines were implemented after a period of 10 sessions (5 days) had been missed, that seems to be missing from all the information I've seen for the changes that come in force in September.

Yes, this is the only bit that I have found on the 10 day thing and it states they've been removed

"Amendments to the 2006 regulations remove references to family holiday and extended leave as well as the statutory threshold of ten school days. The amendments make clear that headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. Headteachers should determine the number of school days a child can be away from school if the leave is granted."

xxlouisexx56

We've booked a holiday for next may/June departing on the tues in half term.

My daughter has autism, a full statement and a full time 1 to 1 helper.

20 months ago I was made redundant whilst on maternity leave. I'm now a full time mum to both my girls (7&2) whilst my partner works a full time job.

My DD simply can not cope with holiday places in the school holidays, they are too packed and noisy for her. So our compromise was to go for a few days in half term and then enjoy the peace when most people would leave to take their kids back to school.
Technically she will miss 7 days of school.
It's such a shame because my daughter loves to be on holiday and is at her best as she loves the sunshine, the beach, loves to swim. And as a full time mum to a child with special needs I also need a holiday.

I am hoping our holiday will be approved under the special circumstances.