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Penalty Notice for Non Attendance

Jemini987
Posts: 1 Newbie
So I know I was lucky to take my kids away on holiday last year Oct 22. This holiday was originally booked 2 years previous but we all know what happened then. So i've got the notice today, why has it taken weeks? The question I have is that they have fined both parents, we're both at the same address married which we were expecting. The penalty notice that is suppose to be for my husband is in my son's name not my husbands. Any advice ? Do I contact the council ? Ignore it ?
I've voiced my opinion to the headteacher as I know other parents at the school who have not received fines and go on more than one holiday i term time. I think after the last 3 years we've all had they could just give us a break.
I've voiced my opinion to the headteacher as I know other parents at the school who have not received fines and go on more than one holiday i term time. I think after the last 3 years we've all had they could just give us a break.
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Comments
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Interesting MSE article here:
Can you take kids on term-time holidays without being fined? - MSE (moneysavingexpert.com)It's the LEA that can fine parents £60 for taking their child on holiday without permission. The fine's per child, per absence (and in theory each parent can be fined, though it varies).
How many children do you have and how much is each fine?
Does the total amount of the fine make sense?
Do not under any circumstances ignore it!What if I don't pay the fine? The £60 fine jumps to £120 if you fail to pay within 21 days of the fine being issued. If you don't pay within 28 days you can be taken to magistrates' court under the Education Act 1996. If found guilty you could end up with a criminal record and face a fine of up to £2,500, court costs or even a jail sentence of up to three months.Only the LEA can tell you why it's taken weeks to send the fine (I'd say months rather than weeks).
The fact that one fine is in your son's name may be an admin error. The LEA should be able to confirm.
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Every parent knows the risk of doing this and you must have known what would happen? Unfortunately we can't expect to be given special treatment just because we feel we deserve it.12
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RhondaD said:Every parent knows the risk of doing this and you must have known what would happen? Unfortunately we can't expect to be given special treatment just because we feel we deserve it.
If I'd made the same decision, I'd expect to be fined the correct amount in the correct way i.e. in the correct name.
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Would you not have been fined anyway if you had taken the holiday at the original time?
You need to take it up with whoever sent you the notice. There should be contact details on it.0 -
Does anyone else feel like we're living in a police state - or at the very least heading that way?!
What absolute nonsense this all is and it's about time it was stopped.
No child is suddenly going to become dumb and dim because they miss a couple of weeks of school.
What on earth is the point of fining people?
My daughter's friend home-schooled her children and they are just as bright as any other child in the country. One of them was offered a place in college last year. He didn't taken any GCSEs but is keeping up with all those in his class who did. He has a very enquiring mind and he and his brother were able to take holidays with their parents whenever was convenient for them all.
Children really don't need regimented, army-like schooling, they are learning all the time, as are we all. But we've all been brainwashed to think that children must go to school or they won't learn. It simply isn't true.
I'd at least have a go at fighting these silly charges.Please note - taken from the Forum Rules and amended for my own personal use (with thanks) : It is up to you to investigate, check, double-check and check yet again before you make any decisions or take any action based on any information you glean from any of my posts. Although I do carry out careful research before posting and never intend to mislead or supply out-of-date or incorrect information, please do not rely 100% on what you are reading. Verify everything in order to protect yourself as you are responsible for any action you consequently take.7 -
But if you don't nip the absence in the bud, with penalties if appropriate, where does it end? It's really not a question of how bright they are (or not).
Is it OK to take Johnny out of school for a couple of days? How about a week, or how about a month so that Johnny can see his relatives in Australia?
Schools and education authorities need to be consistent. It's not as if parents aren't aware of the rules/fines.12 -
The_Unready said:But if you don't nip the absence in the bud, with penalties if appropriate, where does it end? It's really not a question of how bright they are (or not).
Is it OK to take Johnny out of school for a couple of days? How about a week, or how about a month so that Johnny can see his relatives in Australia?
Schools and education authorities need to be consistent. It's not as if parents aren't aware of the rules/fines.
Will the LEA be sending each parent £60 because their child missed a days education?1 -
Different rules, as you well know.....0
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The_Unready said:Different rules, as you well know.....1
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Then lobby your MP to get them changed.0
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