Term Time Holidays

[pretty_snowdrop]

If i take my children on holiday during term time without the permission of the Headteacher will i automatically get fined or does it depend on the council and the amount of time taken off?

I have been advised it is £50 per parent/per child

[bednobs]

only the school will know i guess

[smurfchops]

Phone the school and ask them.

[Buenchico]

It's meant to be a standard policy across all schools but it's possible that some might be less diligent than others when it comes to filling in the paperwork.

Many schools now also ask parents to seek another school for their child unless they agree to comply with their legal obligations in future.

[Sycamore3House]

We just got a warning letter saying further action could be taken. We took ours out every year when they were in infant & junior school & we got a letter every year saying the same. And we were always amazed at how many people we met whilst on holiday doing the same. We did this because of our jobs. We only took them out for one holiday per year.

[pretty_snowdrop]

I am writing to the school tomorrow request permission, however i doubt she will authorise the absence. It is not something we normally do but it is only three days so we thought we would risk it.
I wanted to know if anyone actually got fined or they were empty threats. No doubt i will find out sooner or later.

[New Judge]

Parents do receive fixed penalty notices (£60, rising to £120 if it remains unpaid after 28 days). If you refuse to pay after 42 days you will be summonsed to court and there you can be sentenced to a maximum fine of £1,000 if charged under Section 444 of the Education Act or up to £2,500 and/or imprisonment up to 3 months if charged under Section 444A

[diddlydo]

Frankly, if it's only 3 days I would say the kids were ill.

[MadMen]

Not sure if you're aware, but that £50/£60 is per child and also per parent!

We took the kids out for 5 days a few years ago, and got two separate letters, each will a £60 fine.

In all honesty, I would do as suggested above. It's only three days.

[aelmpvw]

with the amount of holidays they get i would of thought it was difficult to fit in a holiday during term time

[MadMen]

The head teacher at my sons school has recently had a two week break in sunny Portugal, during term time! Unbelievable.

[ChillDoubt]

So just to clarify, the fines are only imposed if you DON'T receive permission from the Head, right?

[Buenchico]

CD:
That's correct.

Diddlydo:
>>>if it's only 3 days I would say the kids were ill

When I was teaching, if anyone was missing from my class I'd always try to contact a parent (either home or at work) by morning break on the first day of absence. Wherever possible I'd also call round to the house after school. (My class ALWAYS had the best attendance record in the school). I'd have soon spotted if anyone wasn't genuinely ill!

[ChillDoubt]

Thanks Chris.

Taking my son away to France for the two weeks just before the hols start.
When I was a schoolboy those were the two weeks when all the work and exams were completed anyway and everyone was allowed to bring board games in etc and the girls got on with their cross stitch!

[craft1948]

I was surprised that on the first cruise I went on in November the next 2 cabins were occupied by a couple and their 4 school age children. I mentioned this when chatting to the father who said he didn't think missing a few lessons was a big deal. It was a 23 day cruise............

[ChillDoubt]

I remember Blair doing it when he was in No.10 and I believe after that every parent in the UK thought "Right, I'm having some of that!"

[New Judge]

Exactly, chilli. I was not going to get bogged down with the rights or wrongs of this but since you’ve raised the issue of “I’ll have some of that!” I will.

One of the biggest aspects often overlooked is that other children in the class where a pupil goes off on holiday is apt to think “Well if he can go to France for a fortnight it can’t be too bad if I have a week off to roam round the shops with my mates!”

[diddlydo]

To Buenchico - I would add that I was a teacher and am a school governor and I still think this draconian "rule" is ridiculous - all depends on the personal circumstances.

[New Judge]

Why so, diddlydo?

As a school governor I’m sure you would be keen to ensure that all the pupils get the best education that your school can provide. It is clearly not in the best interests of those pupils to have some of them disappearing for non-essential reasons during the term. However little effort you may suggest it takes, some measures are needed to make sure those who disappear catch up and are not disadvantaged and this effort must be funded from the monies provided for all pupils.

People who have children must take on board that those children will need to be educated, they will need to attend school for about 39 weeks a year and that any activities they wish to undertake as a family will have to be accommodated in holiday periods. It is not a requirement that has only recently been introduced.