School absence fines. Has anyone on here actually been fined?

[NickiFury]

And what were the circumstances? If you don't mind sharing.

Just wondering really as there are daily threads about this issue usually turning into big bun fights and fear of fines etc. Personally I don't know anyone who has actually been fined despite taking children out mid term.

So just wondering if there's any MNetters who have. Did both parents have to pay etc?

Thanks

[WorraLiberty]

The thing is, the rule preventing head teachers from authorising holidays without exceptional circumstances, only came into force last September.

So it hasn't yet had a full academic year to have made a huge impact. Also, most term time holidays are taken in July.

So I think if you were to ask this question again in a couple of months, the answers might be very different.

More than 52,000 fines were issued for the academic year 2012-2013 and that was an increase from 41,000 the year before.

I think when the figures are released for 2013-2014 it will be significantly higher, due to the new ruling regarding the head teachers.

[WorraLiberty]

Sorry, I know that wasn't what you asked

[mouse26]

My sister got fined last week. She is being induced next week, baby will have to have surgery soon after birth and there may be other health complications for him, she decided to take her daughter on holiday before baby is born as it may be some time before she is able to after the birth. School know all of this but chose to fine her anyway they only fined her, she's separated from her dds dad but he has not been fined.

[NickiFury]

Oh that's rubbish mouse.

Has she actually received the fine or just been told she will?

[mouse26]

She has received it, it took them about 4 Weeks. Fine was £60 and increased to £120 if not paid by a certain time.

[SabrinaMulhollandJjones]

A woman in the nail salon said she had been fined - I didn't ask how much. But I was because she was the first 'real person' who i know of to be fined.

[WorraLiberty]

Fines are also being issued in my borough to parents of persistently late children.

So that might also raise the figures when they're released.

[mummymeister]

3 DC's and I know 7 parents now who have been fined. 2 with only senior school aged kids, 4 with junior/infant and senior kids and 1 with junior school only. they all paid up. our LEA seems to be fining quite harshly in comparison with other areas . there is no 5 day grace period that some seem to have introduced. the tide is turning against them. if parents can make a good enough case with letters from employers, reasons why etc. then leave is being granted for holidays as indeed it should be. I haven't personally been fined because I haven't taken mine out yet but will be doing shortly. I applied as exceptional circumstances and have been granted on the basis of restrictions in my job. I asked and got 5 days. I attached my letters from Gove on the subject and a letter of support from my MP. I think it is about making the case to get the leave authorised in the first place. not just filling in the form and hoping.

[MrsCakesPremonition]

Lots of people in my area have been fined.
www.echo-news.co.uk/news/11286491.200_fined_for_term_time_holidays_with_children/

[VivaLeBeaver]

I know one one who took her kids out for a week.

They've been sent a letter saying its £120 per child per day, per parent. So £480 a day for the week.

They don't have to pay it unless their kids' attendance drops below 95% by the end of the year. So if they get sick, etc they're stuffed.

[mummymeister]

I don't think that's lawful vivalebeaver. I think the law says a fixed fine of £60 per parent per child. still at least worraliberty will be happy as she wants to see fines massively increased.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Well dd's school seem to think its £60 per session per parent. They count a morning as a session and an afternoon as a session.

[thegreylady]

My dd was sent a letter saying the school could not authorise a two day absence to attend an uncle's wedding. Despite this dd was told she would not be fined.

[iseenodust]

I have 2 sets of friends who have been fined. Coincidentally both went to Florida and over ran school hols by a week. One with 2 DC in primary school and the other family has 1 DC in secondary and 1 in primary. Both parents fined in both families. Same local auth.

[WorraLiberty]

Viva, the 'session' being referred to there will be the period of absence for that holiday.

[EarSlaps]

We're thinking of taking DS out for a day for a trip to centerparcs for MIL's 60th. He's in reception and only 4. Are we likely to get fined?

[Whathaveiforgottentoday]

I know somebody that was fined. She didn't pay straight away and ended up in court and had to pay quite a bit - £300? Don't know her too well so not sure how many days they had off.

[WorraLiberty]

EarSlaps if your child wont be of compulsory school age at the time, then no they can't fine you.

[Weathergames]

You have to have 10 (days) consecutive absences to be fined and you have to be given a period of 2 weeks to improve the attendance.

Tell the school on the day you go (up to 10 days off) then legally they cannot fine you.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Worra, so does that mean that they can't charge over 1k for each kid for a week off?

[RustyBear]

Worra - the term 'session' does have a legal meaning with regard to schools: "The Education (School Day and School Year) (England) Regulations 1999 require all maintained schools to open to educate their pupils for at least 380 sessions (190 days) in each school year." So session in this case would mean half a day - ie if a child missed either morning or afternoon registration without a valid reason.