New fines for missing school - how can they prove child not sick?

opinions4u

A holiday isn't a right.

Education is a hard fought for thing that should be treasured. It has a value well beyond the burgers and midge bites of a week at Center Parcs.

If you can't afford out of term time prices this year go somewhere cheaper or stick the money to one side, top it up and go next year instead.

mummyroysof3

How old are the children?

tori.k

Tell her to be honest and ask the school if they have good attendance and she has a good relationship with them they may put it down to being educated elsewhere or exceptional circumstances. some schools think this is also unfair legislation. it's not worth lying it just put's everyone's back up.

Moto2

The fines are in place so that those of us who's kids have now finished with school can have some peace on holiday

Those who've never had kids are generally grumpy and miserable most of the time anyway for some reason - so it won't affect them

lea2012

It's a tough choice really and I can understand where you are coming from.

On the one hand, yes it is morally wrong to teach your children that they can flout the law, however realistically if this is a one off and the children are primary school age they are unlikely to make that connection anyway and it won't do too much damage.

There has been an article recently where a couple were taken to court for taking the children out of school. Whilst this does make alarm bells ring, if you read the article properly you will see that they asked for permission, they were refused so they went anyway. They then refused to pay the fines and ended up being taken to court. The reason they were refused in the first place was because their children had a period of two months very poor attendance.

If a child has an attendance of 95% or more, is achieving all their targets at school and there's no worries about them being able to catch up on any missed work then there isn't really a reason why a school should refuse it. Yes there are new rules but the headteacher still has a right to use their discretion.

I would suggest making an appointment with the head, and then explaining that due to her being a carer for her husband there is no other way to afford to go on holiday. Perhaps even offer to take some work home for the children to do whilst away?

ferf1223

tori.k wrote: »

Tell her to be honest and ask the school if they have good attendance and she has a good relationship with them they may put it down to being educated elsewhere or exceptional circumstances. some schools think this is also unfair legislation. it's not worth lying it just put's everyone's back up.

agree with this...to me it is the only thing that makes sense as the other options are:

1) Change holiday at nearly £400 additional cost
2) Lie and have the school fine as it's obvious what's going on
3) Lie and get away with it but know the school knows you were lying...have to think that would be vastly uncomfortable ignoring everything else.

Mojisola

lea2012 wrote: »

Yes there are new rules but the headteacher still has a right to use their discretion.

Headteachers used to have discretion - under the new law, they have very little leeway. Their decisions will be scrutinised when the school is inspected.

It's worth checking the local council website. Some councils are advising Headteachers that no fines are to be imposed unless a certain number of sessions are missed - eg. https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/leeds-at-odds-with-gove-on-school-holiday-rules-1-6115016

Mojisola

emmamc252 wrote: »

My sisters looking at canceling her holiday to centre parts because of these stupid new fines. She phoned and asked how much to change to school holidays and it's hundreds of pounds she doesn't have. She has 3 school age children all at the same primary. I've told her to phone in and say they are sick, she says it will look too dodgy plus her youngest is in reception so will clearly walk back in and say they've been on holiday and she'll end up getting fined which she also couldn't afford, seriously though, I know the school will know but surely they couldn't prove it? Like they do have to have proof don't they? They can't access her bank account etc to check! I said I'd just do it and say they were sick. Thoughts?

I don't think they will have to prove it - the evidence doesn't have to be of the same level as required by a court of law.

The local council will issue a fine - there's no way three children will be able to pretend that they didn't go on holiday, added to which their friends will know.

If she doesn't/can't pay up, she will end up in court like the family in the news now. If she wants to continue to lie under oath, that's getting into very different territory.

claire16c

If its going to be cheaper to risk a fine then do that instead of moving the holiday then.

Im not sure schools would have the time to prove a child wasnt ill though.

richardw

lea2012 wrote: »

...I would suggest making an appointment with the head, and then explaining that due to her being a carer for her husband there is no other way to afford to go on holiday. Perhaps even offer to take some work home for the children to do whilst away?

Good points there.