Supreme Court: Parents CAN'T take kids on term-time holiday without risking a fine

Spendless

x-caitlin-x wrote: »

I think there should be exceptions for families who genuinely can't take annual leave during term time because their jobs don't allow it, because family time is important. Otherwise, people should either send their kids to school and follow the rules accordingly, or take their kids out and homeschool them.

ETA: I don't think individual headteachers should make the decision. There's too much room for inconsistency. There should be a clearly defined set of criteria for when an absence can be authorised, applied nationally.

My area does allow this. You have to produce written confirmation from your employer this is the case. My area doesn't have 'attending a close relatives wedding abroad' A nearby county has the exceptional circs as the opposite way round, so you can attend a wedding abroad but can't go away without fining if a parent can't get the school hols off.

My own area used to have 'when a holiday was recommended by a health care professional as recuperation from physical or emotional injury or trauma' but it's been taken away. Other areas have never has it.

I agree that there should be a national definition, but you wouldn't be able to think of every potential scenario, which is why the HT should be able to decide and make the distinction between a 5yo whose parent has been told their terminal going on a break before the last round of treatment or admittance to a hospice kicks in and a 16yo wanting to go away just before GCSEs start.

Loz01

Our neighbour asked for a week off for her son for a family reunion in Italy. School said no. Another member of the same family who goes to the same school applied.... and they said yes. So where's the logic in these situations as to who gets given a yes and who gets told no? She asked why the family member had been approved for the exact same dates and pointed out her kid had a higher attendance and the headteacher shrugged and said that's the way it goes!!! Madness. She would've been better off calling him in sick for 5 days.

Spendless

Loz01 wrote: »

Our neighbour asked for a week off for her son for a family reunion in Italy. School said no. Another member of the same family who goes to the same school applied.... and they said yes. So where's the logic in these situations as to who gets given a yes and who gets told no? She asked why the family member had been approved for the exact same dates and pointed out her kid had a higher attendance and the headteacher shrugged and said that's the way it goes!!! Madness. She would've been better off calling him in sick for 5 days.

Was this Primary or Secondary school and was the child told no in a higher school year than the one told yes?

sheramber

onlyroz wrote: »

Nobody has yet come up with an answer on how to impose this "fairer pricing structure". Do you have any suggestions? How about a percent or two on income tax to subsidise a summer holiday for everyone?

If nobody took these dearer holidays they would soon reduce the price. It is always supply and demand- no demand and the price would come down.

SandC

That's what I think Sheramber. I made a point earlier that all inclusive holidays, often aimed at families, increase in cost as much and more than self catering and b&b hols..... so people are also paying far more in peak times for food and drink not just flights and accommodation.

Loz01

Spendless wrote: »

Was this Primary or Secondary school and was the child told no in a higher school year than the one told yes?

Secondary school, her child is year 8 I think and the other child was year 10. Year 10 child was the one given permission.

leespot

SandC wrote: »

That's what I think Sheramber. I made a point earlier that all inclusive holidays, often aimed at families, increase in cost as much and more than self catering and b&b hols..... so people are also paying far more in peak times for food and drink not just flights and accommodation.

Very true. We've been looking for a trip in the May holidays. To travel within the week and be back at school on the Monday the trip is £2500, but to come back on the Tuesday night landing Wednesday morning is £1500 for the same holiday.

harz99

leespot wrote: »

Very true. We've been looking for a trip in the May holidays. To travel within the week and be back at school on the Monday the trip is £2500, but to come back on the Tuesday night landing Wednesday morning is £1500 for the same holiday.

Worth the fine then! Not being rude but just do it or don't, the choice is straitforward.

worldtraveller

onlyroz wrote: »

Nobody has yet come up with an answer on how to impose this "fairer pricing structure". Do you have any suggestions? How about a percent or two on income tax to subsidise a summer holiday for everyone?

Now, I know you're surely kidding!

Why would anyone, apart from some of the usual, "Me, me, I want" society that we live in today, think, that people who choose to have children, obviously as a lifestyle choice, should be subsidised for their family holidays, one iota, by those that don't! :rotfl:

danumdave

This doesn't affect me I am just curious

I have seen on a School forum that parents are receiving fines up to 8 months after "unauthroised absence"

thus my question is, is there a timeframe that the "fines" have to be sent by ?

I have googled this question but struggling to find an answer