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

Moneybot

Short of money and going to Centre Parks for a holiday?

The middle class Butlins isn't really a cheap option. Probably could have got a school holiday holiday elsewhere cheaper. Actually Cente parks in France is cheaper than UK Centre Parks in school holidays even with the extra cost of getting there.

hook

My daughteris in the same boat. Told her to pay the fine as it would be cheaper than cancelling. She booked her holiday when the head mistress had the say so. Now its all changed shes been denied permission. Personally a week outta school wont hurt if your childs doing well. Education is important but so is family. Like so many other families her husband works away so getting a holiday with the kids can be difficult. I would like to point out that shes doing a week all inclusive to spain its cheaper than centre parks.

jacques_chirac

hook wrote: »

My daughteris in the same boat. Told her to pay the fine as it would be cheaper than cancelling. She booked her holiday when the head mistress had the say so. Now its all changed shes been denied permission. Personally a week outta school wont hurt if your childs doing well. Education is important but so is family. Like so many other families her husband works away so getting a holiday with the kids can be difficult. I would like to point out that shes doing a week all inclusive to spain its cheaper than centre parks.

There is a certain irony about someone with such poor grammar saying 'a week outta school wont hurt'.

tori.k

I actually decided to get some clarification on this according to direct Gov they have given guild-lines to the schools and the finale decision rest with the head of each school, fines are NOT issued by government but by the school itself, which is why every school is different in their response's. There has been some success locally with getting employers to sign statements confirming that no holiday is available during school holidays for parents and the school has then granted leave under exceptional circumstances, something worth trying if you can't get holiday booked.

Mojisola

tori.k wrote: »

I actually decided to get some clarification on this according to direct Gov they have given guild-lines to the schools and the finale decision rest with the head of each school, fines are NOT issued by government but by the school itself, which is why every school is different in their response's.

That's just so that the government can say "but it's not US, it's the school that's fining you!"

Who made the law which removed the discretion that Headteachers used to have to permit holidays? Oh, yes - the government.

tori.k

The head still has the discretion they can choose to put it down to exceptional circumstances or not, If a family cannot get leave during school holidays which effect's many family's who work in tourist/retail/food industry's then it could be classed as an exceptional circumstance as it doesn't effect every family the government even throws working time directive out the window when it comes to peak times within trades. it's down to the head of each school to decide not some minion from local government.

YORKSHIRELASS

I have never taken my kids out of school to go on holiday. We dont have much money so our holidays have always been camping, cooking our own meals and generally spending as little as possible. We have had some fantastic times.

Sorry but education is more important than holidays. When you are an adult you cant always go on holiday when you feel like it.

OK there may be circumstances where parents cant take holidays during the summer. I have friends who are farmers and they leave Dad at home while Mum and the kids go away for a few days because they cant leave the farm during August. I can also see that if your child is in a reception class then maybe it doesnt matter if they are away from school for a few days. However, generally I think that your child is supposed to be at school during term time and that's where they should be.

bylromarha

duchy wrote: »

Oh the irony (or more likely the trolling) March 2011 the OP was claiming she was currently employed as a teacher. Hmmmm

Quote (thread closed) Hi, I am currently a teacher, 24 weeks pregnant and my school is going through a staffing review.

Seems like the OP is

1 Trolling
2 A qualified teacher with zero regard for education and other teachers.... and no idea what procedures are in schools and no teacher friends/ex colleagues to ask
3 Something else

Whilst I know what the aim of your post is, I'm a qualified primary teacher who sees a massive value in travel and holidays and family time.

We can afford to pay the school holiday prices, so we do. Lots of families can't, and don't have a generous aunty mo with a spare room, which allows 3 or more people to sleep in it. I certainly don't.

I'd be happy to say goodbye to a child for a week of term, knowing that life is about more than school. But then I think governments over the past 10 years seem to think of themselves as knowing what is better for my child than I do.

If there is a 98+% attendance and the child is making adequate progress, then 5 days holiday every 2 years should be allowed IMO.