Writing a letter to take my child out for the last week of term

[Newbieuser1880]

Hi, we have booked a holiday and we are taking my 7 year old out of term for the last week in July. Has anyone got a template/experience if what they put in their letter? TIA.

[Branleuse]

do you have any extenuating or special circumstances you can think of?

[ourkidmolly]

What's the special leave policy? Are you in a school with a fining policy? Do you have extenuating circumstances? Why would they authorise it?
You need to share this info in order for more advice. A week is a long time.

[Newbieuser1880]

Hi, no soeacial circumstances which I think will apply such as family wedding etc. It’s a complete one off for him and a holiday we wouldn’t be going on otherwise as it would cost more in the official holidays. It’s the last week of terms where they are game days etc and a definite wind down. He has completed his sats this year and worked hard.

[Newbieuser1880]

I cannot find an abscence policy on the school website however have spoken to a couple of peens about it that have done it. They just wrote a letter confirming dates their children would not be in, no fine received. I think the school would class all abscenes as unauthorised.

[Mindchilder]

Just say "x will be absent from x/x/xx to x/x/xx for a family holiday"
It won't be authorised so you don't need any other information.

[Newbieuser1880]

Sorry typing fast. I meant spoken to a couple of parents.

[FatCow2018]

There is no point asking as the school isn't allowed to authorise leave for this, the LA has strict guidelines. Simply state that you are going, and pay the £120.

[Newbieuser1880]

Who charges the fine? The other parents didn’t receive a fine. There is a point in asking as I haven’t done this before so wondered if anyone had examples from personal experience.

[Newbieuser1880]

Mindchilder-thanks for the advice, one of the helpful ones.

[Doilooklikeatourist]

XX will not be attending school the week staring 15th July for personal reasons

Never apologise or explain 😀

Have a lovely holiday

[ourkidmolly]

That's a bit rude. Was coming back to provide template but won't bother now.

[lanbro]

My school have never fined us, I just email saying when dc won't be in, goes down as unauthorised absence. Primary school tho

[Newbieuser1880]

Thank you, yes primary school here. Thanks.

[ChocolateWombat]

Are you asking because you are hoping that how you express it will result in it being authorised rather than unauthorised, or because you are hoping to avoid a fine, or simply because you want to accurately explain that you are choosing to take your child out if school in term time and the holiday you are going on?

The school cannot give permission so it will be unauthorised. It is then up to them if they go down the fine route and to be honest, it doesn't matter what has happened to other people previously, because if you take unauthorised absence you just need to accept that a fine is a risk of your choice....and I'd say you then just need to pay up and not make a fuss. If you wanted to know what the outcome of your action would be, you could have asked in advance.

Clearly you are going on the holiday. Now it is best to write your own letter just stating the dates when your child won't be in school and giving a brief reason - the school do need to know a reason because otherwise they cannot categorise the absence. It's up to you if you apologise or not. Some schools will write back to all such letters and say it is authorised/unauthorised etc and others don't seem to reply automatically. Again, your action could result in a fine....you just need to accept this if it happens and pay up.

[Labradoodliedoodoo]

You wouldn’t get fined at my kids school.

[Dordognebound]

Ring Monday morning to report DC off for next couple of days with vomiting bug. Ring Wed to say still unwell so won't be back before end of term.

Have a good holiday!