School Holiday Fines

andyj288

Can you please explain to me then why we as parents have to sit down with our young children for at least one hour every week doing your job, which is teaching them with their homework?
Under the european human rights act, it is illegal to interfere with a families social life, this includes holidays, which means this new ruling by the supreme court is illegal

ALIBOBSY

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

Just a little update I tracked down my LEA's policies on fines and currently it still has them only considering fines for 10 school sessions i.e. 5 days unauthorised in one term or 20 sessions over 2 terms.

But I am prepared that they may still fine us, will apply for permission anyway and see what happens. Could really do without the fine, but if we have to will sort that out when we come back, probably have to do a bit of juggling with bills and the like if and when it happens. But the important thing is the kids and our health we feel.

Thanks for all the comments

Ali x

Further update, the primary school sent a letter confirming they wouldn't authorise, but as its less than 10 sessions and they have good attendance they will not be issuing a penalty notice.

High school finally came back to us just before easter hols asking for a form to be filled in with a list of questions, plus they want a printed copy of the letter attached and sent to them again. So will see, but at least looks like it will be just the one penalty at max.

ALIBOBSY

Also if anyone was wondering and didn't see, Jon Platt lost in the supreme court, they ruled that regular attendance is whatever the LEA set it to be. This means if they chose to they could insist its 100% attendance and even fine for 1 single unauthorised session i.e an official late mark maked the whole session unauthorised, so one late could lead to a penalty notice.

Now the reality is the LEAs may not go this strict, BUT the supreme court have overturned a number of previous high court decisions to give them the right to if they wish. Jons case now goes back to the mag, court and I believe he intends to plead not guilty on different grounds, so the saga continues.

Annoyed that this is still portrayed as a money saving kind of thing, when there are a number of reasons. Yes some people can only afford even a basic UK holiday in term time, are we saying that if you are on low income you aren't allowed any family time together-perhaps we should bring back the work houses so the low paid have no time off at all lol.

But I have seen people with children who struggle in crowds with various conditions, limited dates they can get time off, visting family members with terminal conditions etc, all refused. Even lady who travelled abroad for health treatment for one child, refused permission to take her other young child out of primary school!!! Like she would leave a youngster behind. She had just got a penalty notice.

I even read a lady who had one terminal child who wanted to take the whole family away one last time whilst they still could and was refused, how heartless is that. They couldn't wait till the school holidays as time was limited.

People who have children are being pushed on sickness as well, with many being asked for "sicknotes" off GP's. Not only a waste of their precious time, but often the GP refuses as they aren't supposed to issue anything for schools/child sickness.

Also read many, many cases of SEN children being pushed out of state schools as their varied needs and problem attendance are seen as too hard work and affect the stats too much.

What needs to happen is the attendance levels need to no longer be linked to ofstead gradings. This pushes heads into obsessing about figures and ignoring children and families needs.

Saw a post today from a lady whose daughter was in tears, she did what she was told and booked a holiday in the easter break. The day before break up her daughter was given a letter about "compulsary" revision sessions in Easter!!!! Firstly it's stupidly short notice, second you cannot be complied to attend more than the normal school year and thirdly study after study proves that revision without breaks and hot housing of students not only reduces attainment it can have anxiety and stress related effects on them.

It's about time the state realised parents know best what their child needs, not them and penalising a majority for a minority who don't take care of the children properly and have high truant levels, whilst the minority get away with it is completely unfair.

Meanwhile those who make the decisions will have their kids in private school where they can take them out any time they like with no penalities at all.

Ali x

NB for info Jon is suggesting in local elections vote green party-they are against the current policy or if no green then lib dems as they are on the fence. Both the main parties support this draconian system.

tibawo

I am interested in when teachers have different school holidays to their own children. Teachers have to take holidays at given times , will they fine them if they take their children out of school?

ALIBOBSY

tibawo wrote: »

I am interested in when teachers have different school holidays to their own children. Teachers have to take holidays at given times , will they fine them if they take their children out of school?

That's an interesting one really, as 2 schools can have different holiday dates. For example my kids have been off for Easter a week already, but 2 of their friends who live down the street only finished on friday. Our older daughter doesn't finish till 21st july the little ones finish 19th because of insets. So school close by each other can have quite different holidays, so would a teacher be allowed as exceptional circs? Some schools are refusing and issuing penalties to parents even when they prove their employers have set holidays or won't allow them time off during summer etc so the should treat teachers the same OR allow everyone some leeway.

Ali x

Seriouslynn

Commerce & Industry cannot 'survive' if employees all needed time off at the same time, e.g. ONLY in school holidays. It's ludicrous to suggest otherwise!
There is no data whatsoever to prove hols & school absence have a negative impact on children's lives or education.
My view:- it's up to parents to choose what's right & proper for their children so.... Cause a revolution - fight a good fight - go on holiday - refuse to pay any fine & patiently wait for council / government backlash. If 1000's of parents do so, no authority can afford to take 1000's to court!
Councils are publicly funded by parents & any tax payer's money - how dare they use that to bring cases to court?!
Ironic that supreme​ court judges will probably all pay privately for their own children's education, therefore not governed by this legislation!
Makes my blood boil.

Seriouslynn

If a headteacher refuses to authorise an absence for any reason, apparently that decision doesn't affect the school's position on National League Tables! What a farce.

Spendless

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

Also if anyone was wondering and didn't see, Jon Platt lost in the supreme court, they ruled that regular attendance is whatever the LEA set it to be. This means if they chose to they could insist its 100% attendance and even fine for 1 single unauthorised session i.e an official late mark maked the whole session unauthorised, so one late could lead to a penalty notice.

Now the reality is the LEAs may not go this strict, BUT the supreme court have overturned a number of previous high court decisions to give them the right to if they wish. Jons case now goes back to the mag, court and I believe he intends to plead not guilty on different grounds, so the saga continues.

Annoyed that this is still portrayed as a money saving kind of thing, when there are a number of reasons. Yes some people can only afford even a basic UK holiday in term time, are we saying that if you are on low income you aren't allowed any family time together-perhaps we should bring back the work houses so the low paid have no time off at all lol.

But I have seen people with children who struggle in crowds with various conditions, limited dates they can get time off, visting family members with terminal conditions etc, all refused. Even lady who travelled abroad for health treatment for one child, refused permission to take her other young child out of primary school!!! Like she would leave a youngster behind. She had just got a penalty notice.

I even read a lady who had one terminal child who wanted to take the whole family away one last time whilst they still could and was refused, how heartless is that. They couldn't wait till the school holidays as time was limited.

People who have children are being pushed on sickness as well, with many being asked for "sicknotes" off GP's. Not only a waste of their precious time, but often the GP refuses as they aren't supposed to issue anything for schools/child sickness.

Also read many, many cases of SEN children being pushed out of state schools as their varied needs and problem attendance are seen as too hard work and affect the stats too much.

What needs to happen is the attendance levels need to no longer be linked to ofstead gradings. This pushes heads into obsessing about figures and ignoring children and families needs.

Saw a post today from a lady whose daughter was in tears, she did what she was told and booked a holiday in the easter break. The day before break up her daughter was given a letter about "compulsary" revision sessions in Easter!!!! Firstly it's stupidly short notice, second you cannot be complied to attend more than the normal school year and thirdly study after study proves that revision without breaks and hot housing of students not only reduces attainment it can have anxiety and stress related effects on them.

It's about time the state realised parents know best what their child needs, not them and penalising a majority for a minority who don't take care of the children properly and have high truant levels, whilst the minority get away with it is completely unfair.

Meanwhile those who make the decisions will have their kids in private school where they can take them out any time they like with no penalities at all.

Ali x

NB for info Jon is suggesting in local elections vote green party-they are against the current policy or if no green then lib dems as they are on the fence. Both the main parties support this draconian system.

Don't suppose you know what school year the child is in? My guess is it's either yr6 (sats) or yr11 (GCSEs) maybe sixth form.

My sister has been complaining about the same thing. She has 16yo twins in yr11. They had some day trips booked Feb half term and then got a last minute letter saying there was revision sessions that they were expected to attend. She got the same letter for these Easter hols.

Another parent with child at same school said when they'd quizzed the school about the 'compulsory' bit, School admitted they were voluntary, their next letter said 'voluntary' no-one elses did.

It's a bug bear of mine that homework is set for any of the years in the school holidays.

balletshoes

Spendless wrote: »

Don't suppose you know what school year the child is in? My guess is it's either yr6 (sats) or yr11 (GCSEs) maybe sixth form.

My sister has been complaining about the same thing. She has 16yo twins in yr11. They had some day trips booked Feb half term and then got a last minute letter saying there was revision sessions that they were expected to attend. She got the same letter for these Easter hols.

Another parent with child at same school said when they'd quizzed the school about the 'compulsory' bit, School admitted they were voluntary, their next letter said 'voluntary' no-one elses did.

It's a bug bear of mine that homework is set for any of the years in the school holidays.

my daughter is year 11, GSCE year, and she's had revision sessions in school by invitation (so its tailored to what the child needs to maintain/improve their predicted grade) in both February and April school holidays (she may have them in May too). I made it my business to find out if school sessions were likely for revision during the school holidays (based on this happening last year at the same school). They are not compulsory, and parents may feel their child won't really benefit from them. I know my child, she is more motivated to get on and do things if she's in school revising. So, we've not had any planned breaks away from home this year, and won't have until the end of June.
I do feel schools and teachers can't win - on the one hand they get bashed for giving out homework/offering to attend school after hours and in holidays to help children revise, and on the other with all the bureaucracy that goes along with having a class, they don't have enough time in the day to actually teach.

unholyangel

andyj288 wrote: »

Can you please explain to me then why we as parents have to sit down with our young children for at least one hour every week doing your job, which is teaching them with their homework?
Under the european human rights act, it is illegal to interfere with a families social life, this includes holidays, which means this new ruling by the supreme court is illegal

Troll harder next time.

6/10 for effort though.