Holiday out of school term

[shaun2001]

Now I dont want teachers preaching me about this subject The rights and wrongs but do need some clear advise

I wish to take my daughters on holiday and have requested 13 days of school in term time and they say that a maximum of ten days is allowed  

What is the law and can they stop me doing this

[Loosehead]

There is no law to stop you. The law says that you must send children to school and that suitable reason must exist for there absence. The question really is whether a holiday is a "suitable reason". Presumably there is an arbitrary 10 days set on this before the school is even interested, 13 days is excessive and may result in the school objecting but in reality they have bigger problems to worry about. It's really down to whether you think removing that amount of education from your children is acceptable to you.

[Lillabet]

Loosehead is actually wrong on this one.

There is no law that says you must send your children to school. You can withdraw a child from the state education system at any time simply by notifying the school that you mean to do this. They can then be independently (privately) educated or home schooled.

However once you have decided to educate your child through the state system there are other factors which come into play. Assuming that you do not wish to permanently deregister your children from the state system. (doing this temporarily would be hard as you would then have to reapply to the school to have them readmitted after your holiday)

The Education Act of 1996 gives local authorities certain powers with regard to school attendance, amongst other things. Schools can authorise up to 10 days off for a holiday in term time. Your school is absolutely correct on this. If a school has not authorised an absence then the absence will be counted as unauthorised.

A report detailing any unauthorised absence that the school deems a problem will be sent to your local Educational Welfare office. The officers there can, if they choose, take action against you. In extreme cases this can include taking you to court where fines of up to �2500 and prison sentences can be imposed. They also have a range of other powers such as being able to require you to sign a 'parenting order' - a type of contract - with consquences if you break it. Social services can also be involved. 

[Lillabet]

continued...

More likely for a one off it is likely to involve a strict telling off and a mark on your childs record to look out for such absences in the future. But better to be safe than sorry. Ultimately it is possible to end up with a criminal record. Quite a price for a holiday.

I would suggest being as reasonable as possible with the school. They cannot authorise more than 10 days so are not being obstructive for the sake of it. Ask them what action they would take if you went ahead. Also how to minimise the effect of the holiday on your kids education. Can they be given the work to catch up on in the school holidays given that they will be having extra holiday in term time?

Also if this is a one off say so. Schools don't like repeated absences for holidays no matter how much they might sympathise over holiday time price hikes.

 

[Eeeek]

Wow Lillabet what a fabulous answer!

[shaz-rla]

We are having 15 days off school this year as a one off holiday.  I am doing a scrapbook with my 2 school age (one is in reception and one is doing SATS at the moment) children teaching them a bit about the language of the area we are going to and teaching them to swim and different experiences.  My little one (who is starting school this year) will also gain a lot from it.  I approached the school with this and they gave us permission (it is in the last 6 weeks of the summer term, where I personally don't think they gain as much from school as I feel it is a wind down time). I will also ask for homework for them. Obviously everyones views are different as are every school.  My children have had very little absences from school - 1 day each if anything.  As lillabet says you should approach your head teacher with a reasonable explanation and ask for homework etc.  Good Luck!

[thikasabrik]

I can't speak for other areas, but North Yorkshire Education Department have implemented a Fixed Penalty system for parents who take their children out of school for more than 10 days holiday a year. The Fixed Penalty is for �50, which is doubled to �100 if it isn't paid within so many days.

[Phantaxus]

you dont say where you are going on holiday maybe your school would be more cooperative if the holiday was of educational value. 13 days at the ruins of Egypt vs 13 days on a beach in Benidorm. If it is of educational value ask for the teachers of the subject it would help to provide relevant work or research projects, then if they dont cooperate and it ends up be taken up by social services you have a valid excuse - It was a educational field trip, I tried to get relevant work from the scholl and the wouldnt help.

[dirtyharriet]

My son wanted to go on 2 separate training weeks with the Sea Cadets and as he plans to go into the navy, I saw it as a valuable experience for his future career. Each week involved passing tests and getting certificates but the school said he could only do one. I decided to let him do both and for the second week sent in a letter telling them he'd been ill all week. My son got his week away and the school were happy that we'd obeyed their rules. Could this be a way of compromising?

[dirtyharriet]

I don't think Social services would be remotely interested unless there were regular and continued absences from school, which is not what I understood Shaun was asking about.