Term Time holiday fine.

Valli

Whether or not the school was notified is irrelevant; if the school takes the view that the absence was unauthorised then the penalty may be imposed; even if the school knows of the absence in advance they can choose to authorise it or not; and they should publish guidelines (on their website or in their brochure/prospectus) as to whether a holiday is likely to be unauthorised.

However my local authority has, apparently, not processed letters in the specified timescale meaning that, while some parents have taken children out for unauthorised absences they have not been issued with a penalty notice!

maman

Valli wrote: »

Whether or not the school was notified is irrelevant; if the school takes the view that the absence was unauthorised then the penalty may be imposed; even if the school knows of the absence in advance they can choose to authorise it or not; and they should publish guidelines (on their website or in their brochure/prospectus) as to whether a holiday is likely to be unauthorised.

However my local authority has, apparently, not processed letters in the specified timescale meaning that, while some parents have taken children out for unauthorised absences they have not been issued with a penalty notice!

It's not totally irrelevant because if schools have no idea where a pupil is they need to make enquiries. This child went on holiday over Easter and then failed to return so school may not even know it started as a holiday.


As long as OP can't let us know the reason then we'll have no idea whether it might be considered exceptional circumstances.

callum9999

Valli wrote: »

Whether or not the school was notified is irrelevant; if the school takes the view that the absence was unauthorised then the penalty may be imposed; even if the school knows of the absence in advance they can choose to authorise it or not; and they should publish guidelines (on their website or in their brochure/prospectus) as to whether a holiday is likely to be unauthorised.

However my local authority has, apparently, not processed letters in the specified timescale meaning that, while some parents have taken children out for unauthorised absences they have not been issued with a penalty notice!

And you don't think the school will factor in the not being told anything into their decision as to whether to authorise it or not?

I'm no school administrator, but if a pupil just didn't show up for 2 weeks with no contact then I'd register it as unauthorised. If I was contacted by the parents who informed me that, for example, their grandmother had died while abroad so they were waiting there for the funeral, it would be authorised.

Depending on what the circumstances are, the school could even arrange for some work to be emailed over for them to be getting on with.

Valli

maman wrote: »

It's not totally irrelevant because if schools have no idea where a pupil is they need to make enquiries. This child went on holiday over Easter and then failed to return so school may not even know it started as a holiday.


As long as OP can't let us know the reason then we'll have no idea whether it might be considered exceptional circumstances.

callum9999 wrote: »

And you don't think the school will factor in the not being told anything into their decision as to whether to authorise it or not?

I'm no school administrator, but if a pupil just didn't show up for 2 weeks with no contact then I'd register it as unauthorised. If I was contacted by the parents who informed me that, for example, their grandmother had died while abroad so they were waiting there for the funeral, it would be authorised.

Depending on what the circumstances are, the school could even arrange for some work to be emailed over for them to be getting on with.

A child absent with no explanation, for this length of time, would trigger a report to School Welfare who would be investigating the absence. And checking on the welfare of the child. The decision as to whether or not to authorise the absence is usually down to the head; not the office staff.