Anyone been fined yet for taking kids out of school?

deva

The whole point of the strike is to be a disconvience so as to raise public awareness of the issues facing many public sector workers, if the strike was on a weekend how many would even notice?

If the govt discussed with the teachers the strike may be off. One (sneaky) option is to see if any religious holiday is on your away dates and reaffirm your membership of this faith. An r code does not count against attendance

Mojisola

alwaysonthego wrote: »

Could someone PM me if they want to put some info together and we can start a new thread and make it a sticky

The LEAS go by the Education Act which defines the term parent more loosely than the Children Act 1989.

My DH, who is the SD of my children got fined

It's quite a wide definition-
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/268787/Parental_Responsibility_Measures_for_School_Attendance_and_Behaviour.pdf
Definition of a parent
A parent means:
All natural parents, whether they are married or not;
Any person who has parental responsibility for a child or young person; and,
Any person who has care of a child or young person i.e. lives with and looks after the child.

The local authority and school will need to decide who comes within the definition of parent in respect of a particular pupil when using the legal measures, but generally parents include all those with day to day responsibility for a child.

alwaysonthego_2

New sticky thread, let me know if I have missed anything

balletshoes

barbarawright wrote: »

Half the schools in the country aren't under the control of a local authority

true - my daughter's isn't, however it appears to be under the umbrella of our local LA when it comes to school holidays and fines for unauthorised absence.

Tigsteroonie

It appears difficult to find anything on Manchester CC's website about school & absences. It's not listed as a menu item on their Schools & Education page - I could only find something by Googling. And although they refer to the law, they don't explain how many unauthorised absences will result in a penalty.

Heyho. Our son won't be mandatory school age until September anyway

Tanswell88

This is what it says on my daughters schools website

When deciding whether to allow time off, the school will consider.
If there are special circumstances for the request
The time of year you want the holiday
How long the holiday will be and how much it will disrupt your child’s education
Previous similar requests
Your child’s attendance record

It definitely appears to differ county to county.

PlymouthMaid

I know a family who a couple of times a year have to either take their children with them on business trips (both parents have to go) or take them around 150 miles away to other family members. I wonder if they would be fined and, if so, if they could suggest the children attend the nearest local school while away? I have no idea if they do get fined, haven't asked them.

GobbledyGook

Tanswell88 wrote: »

This is what it says on my daughters schools website



It definitely appears to differ county to county.

I would say it's more likely they haven't updated the website since the rule change.

peachyprice

Tanswell88 wrote: »

This is what it says on my daughters schools website



It definitely appears to differ county to county.

Yes, you have to make sure you google the LEA guidance notes/Cpde of Conduct 2013 revision

FBaby

Looks like the school informs the LA who then send the letter out.

That's interesting and would seem to fit with the feeling I get from the communication I have received. The Head teacher of my DD secondary school pointed everything expected, ie. authorised absence only exceptional, fines will apply etc... but it was written in a way that hinted that there would be some discretion from the Head teacher.

However much I will accept with much unhappiness to be fine for my kids, I would challenge my husband being penalised. He is in no way part of the decision of my taking the kids out of school, nor part of the holiday nor financing it. How can he be fine for something he has no control over. Since when does education gets to be involved in family dynamics? How can a governement that give step-parents no right at all in relation to their step-children allow them to be financially penalised for something they can do nothing about. That is just morally outrageous, pure and simple.