School Holiday Fines

RajaStyle

Council gives parents green light to take children on holiday in term time

Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2016/09/22/council-gives-parents-green-light-to-take-children-on-holiday-in-term-time-6144051/#ixzz4KzS41ybi

http://metro.co.uk/2016/09/22/council-gives-parents-green-light-to-take-children-on-holiday-in-term-time-6144051/

onefurlongout

Hi all,


2016 has been a tough year after my 2013 bowel cancer diagnosis advanced to my lungs. So far I have had 2 major lung surgeries and have just completed 24 weeks of chemo.


The good news is I've been give the all clear so have decided to take a trip to see my parents in the USA as we have been unable to travel all year on medical advice.


We have decided to go over the Feb half term but will need to take our 2 children (5 and 8) out of school for a total of 9 days either side of the half term week.


I have written a letter to the headteacher advising of the trip and asking if they would consider this as exceptional circumstances. Whilst it is technically a holiday it also give my kids an opportunity to spend time with their grandparents and my brother/sister and their children.


Does anyone have any view on whether this would be acceptable or know of any similar cases.

maman

onefurlongout wrote: »

Does anyone have any view on whether this would be acceptable or know of any similar cases.

It's all a bit up in the air at the moment since that father on the Isle of Wight won his case but the government are planning to appeal the judgement.


https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jun/09/isle-of-wight-appeal-jon-platt-florida


I think because of this your school may not want to make a fuss although in your case I'd have thought any confident headteacher would agree the situation is exceptional.

Loz01

Maggij wrote: »

I was advised by a travel agent that travelling to New York in early January (school holidays which was when I was originally going to book) was no recommended due to the risk with the weather - snow etc. I booked in early December due this advice. (The trip is now more expensive but safer weather wise). The trip is for my daughters 18th birthday but she is in 6th form the holiday is now in school term time. I have not informed the school yet, as I am concerned about a possible fine. Will I be fined even though my daughter will be 18 while we are away, so she will be an adult by then and technically she does not have to go to school at all!

If you're only going for a few days/a week then I'd just call her in sick if it was my daughter. Like you say, it's a bit ridiculous at 18!!

ALIBOBSY

I know the final appeal regarding this is pending, but wondering where we stand.

We have had a terrible couple of months with my Dad being ill, travelling back and forth to various hospitals all through Christmas and New year till he finally passed away early this month.

As a family we are devastated, and my 2 youngest have been particularly upset. My OH and I have decided we really need to get away and reconnect as a family, but due to a number of unexpected costs and our low income there is no way we can afford to go in term time. We managed to book a cheap 4 nights away in this country for under £100 off season BUT in term time. We went for a week that includes a bank holiday so they will only be out of school for 4 days and I will offer to take any work with us (not asking for any just offering if they want us to). We genuinely believe all our mental health will be greatly helped by a period together haven't taken the kids out of school before and they all have good attendance records.

Just hoping we won't be fined, but will have to scrape the money together later in the year if we are. Do schools take into account things like this? Plus I have seen mention of the fines only be issued for 5 days off, is this still the case?

Ali x

Spendless

Alibobs- Some councils do or did. My own used to have the criteria 'where a holiday is recommended by a health professional due to physical or emotional well-being' (I'm paraphrasing here as I don't recall the exact wording but that was the general gist). My council took this criteria away though and didn't make it well known that they had.

In addition some councils are now not fining pending the ruling hearing.

Best thing is to google your own council and see what you can find.

Music_Teacher

As as teacher I won't object to you taking your child out of school for a cheap holiday if you don't object to teachers not turning up for a couple of weeks to have the same privilege, why shouldn't we have the option too - many of us have young families. Also don't expect staff to spend extra time to help your child catch up missed work - when it's done deliberately, quite frankly, I can't be bothered...

shiny76

Music_Teacher wrote: »

As as teacher I can't be bothered...

Perhaps you should consider another profession

Mojisola

Music_Teacher wrote: »

Also don't expect staff to spend extra time to help your child catch up missed work - when it's done deliberately, quite frankly, I can't be bothered...

shiny76 wrote: »

Perhaps you should consider another profession

Why?

Teachers already spend a lot of time - usually in what should be their breaktimes - helping children who have missed school through illness. Why should they also give up more of their time to help children catch up who have been deliberately taken out of school for holidays?

Perhaps it's time for teachers to start putting up signs in their classes (like the hospitals do) showing how many children have missed school that day for no good reason.

shiny76

Mojisola wrote: »

Why?

Given the heavily edited quote, I expected people to take my post tongue-in-cheek