Term time holiday without a fine?

dunsrm

Does anybody have any experience of taking children out of school in term time ?
Under the current guidelines, I understand that headteachers are not allowed to authorise any time off school for holidays.
I found an article on another forum that explained that parents get fined only if the absence covers 5 school days.
Can anyone confirm that these are the rules?

My 11 year old will have finished his SATs by half term at end of May.
If we go on holiday to Cyprus for 10 days at that time ( missing 3 days of school) , the total cost of flights, villa, car hire is £2000.)
If I wait til summer holidays and go for 2 weeks instead of 10 days, it will the same holiday costs a massive £5000!

It seems like a no brainier but I wondered whether anyone else had experience of doing some thing similar.?

peachyprice

TBH, you're better off asking people in your own school/LEA, it's going to vary widely by school/area just how strongly the rules are enforced.

The 5 days/10 sessions thing is written in to the code of conduct in my LEA, but I've heard of others where it isn't. It's a minefield.

London50

I have long passed the problem with taking children out of school in term time {all adult now and that rule was not on the books at that time} but I would say that even if you were fined for it it would not be a fine anywhere near £3000 pounds and if I were in your position I would go with the 10 day holiday and see if anything happened after your return. As you say it is a no brainier and it is not as if your child will anything lesson wise in the last 3 days. Just go for it and have a great time

agrinnall

I heard a snippet on the radio this morning that suggested one of the parties (might have been Labour) is proposing to scrap fines on parents and instead fine holiday companies who increase prices in school holidays. Whether that's election rhetoric or something that will actually happen only time will tell.

System

agrinnall wrote: »

I heard a snippet on the radio this morning that suggested one of the parties (might have been Labour) is proposing to scrap fines on parents and instead fine holiday companies who increase prices in school holidays.

agrinnall wrote: »

Whether that's election rhetoric

Probably

agrinnall wrote: »

or something that will actually happen only time will tell.

You mean that Labour believe that they have the power to control all flight, hotel etc costs throughout the world to force them to stay at a set level during our holiday periods? Delusions of grandeur on a massive scale!

wallbash

nd instead fine holiday companies who increase prices in school holidays

Fairy tale.
Its standard supply and demand , that what determines the cost.
If I was a holiday company , would just rise all prices to the summer rates.

You now 'get' a discount for off peak travel .......maybe that would stop parents moaning.
Why am I taking such a hard line??
Married a teacher , so since she was five ( school , uni, teacher training and then thirty five years of working ) she has never had a 'cheap' holiday.
So have not a lot of patience with those who have only a few years to pay the 'standard' amount.

richardw

It appears your holiday budget is £2000, so book a holiday within budget in school holidays and avoid a 3 day loss of education for your child. This would be a win win.

peachyprice

richardw wrote: »

It appears your holiday budget is £2000, so book a holiday within budget in school holidays and avoid a 3 day loss of education for your child. This would be a win win.

If OP's son still needs those 3 days extra schooling AFTER he's already taken his KS2 SAT's she has far bigger things to worry about than being fined.

PeacefulWaters

It appears the state has said you can pay to get your child out of school.

I would.

sheramber

from the GOV.UK site

Holidays in term time

You have to get permission from the head teacher if you want to take your child out of school during term time.

You can only do this if:

you make an application to the head teacher in advance (as a parent the child normally lives with)
there are exceptional circumstances

It’s up to the head teacher how many days your child can be away from school if leave is granted.

You can be fined for taking your child on holiday during term time without the school’s permission.

https://www.gov.uk/school-attendance-absence/legal-action-to-enforce-school-attendance

Moto2

So one child for 3 days? - He's simply sick