To not agree to this Holiday ?

A whole week both kids ill? As if the school will believe that? And why teach your kids to lie? Why put your kids in a position to lie? Saying your 2 kids are ill for a whole week will them become a safeguarding issue

All right love, wind yer neck in, fgs 😂.
I am not saying he is right by any stretch - and I have no skin in the game. I am on your side - as my previous comment showed. He is a complete twerp.

But YOU tell ME then, how will the school prove it?

If he rings and tells the school they are ill on the first day, he has already got out of a potential fine as fines only kick in after 5 consecutive days.

OP there are steps you can take to make things smoother for you.

G o through CMS for the maintenance and change all communication to a parenting app. Block him everywhere else. Talk to the school about his plans and tell them you have not agreed but are not sure that will stop him. I would also talk to the police about the harassment, but not expect that to go anywhere much.

You sound scared of him and like you acquiesce to avoid confrontation and for a quiet life. The point of these steps is to quiet his voice in your life and make sure his threats and unreasonableness are documented so you can use the police or courts if he continues to abuse you. But I think you also need some real life support. If you don't have a friend who you can talk to about it all and who will be sympathetic but strong for you then Gingerbread (the charity for single parents) and Women's Aid may be able to help with a supportive ear or even a support group.

Go to the CMS for your maintenance.

As for the fine, you need to evidence that you’ve told him you don’t agree to him taking the dc out of school for a holiday. Email or saved messages will do. That way you can challenge the fine

Where do you get the idea that you will be left with the fines?

That is not how fines work.

And he could probably get out of it anyway but just saying the kids were ill when staying with him. The school can't prove it.

If you are separated you can tell the head teacher that you haven’t consented. This has happened to other people I know so only the dad got fined

Haven't read replies yet but I would refuse on the basis of only 2 out of 5 children being invited on holiday. This happened with us and caused untold damage - with mine and the favoured child's relationship when I would be the bad guy and say no because it's not fair. And between the siblings the one time I relented against my better judgment. We are 99% repaired and back on track but it is still brought up, years later, between the siblings if they're arguing about something else.

Don’t they have GCSE Mocks? Maybe tell him to take the youngest kids who won’t be missing on such crucial 30 hours of education?

I was worried that he never has them overnight but suddenly is taking them abroad.....then read he has another wife and more children

For a start you need to go to CMS and get this sorted out. £150 a month for five kids is a joke. If you go on to their calculator you will be able to get a rough idea of what he needs to be paying.

He is taking the piss but YOU ARE LETTING HIM.

He will continue to do this until you get rid of the mindset that he is allowed to control you. Deep down I think that you are still scared of him, but you have legal rights too and you must exercise them. He wont listen to you but at some point he WILL need to listen to the authorities despite what he thinks.

CMS can take maintenance straight from his wages if he refuses to pay and with a wife and two other kids to support, he is hardly going to give up his job is he? Then get lawyered up and get a prohibited steps order regarding term time holidays. If he tries to take them anyway there are serious consequences for him, especially if you can get one with power of arrest, although they can be difficult to get.

Please contact the domestic abuse services in your area for advice and do refer your kids to the local authority through the council website (google MASH + your town name) for early intervention help.

Go to the police. Also explain the situation to the school. And get support from a relevant charity. It is coercive control.

Never mind the school stuff I wouldn't be agreeing to a man who parents 130 hours a year taking any of them for a week. How do you explain to the other 3? I assume theres younger half siblings he wants a babysitter for while he enjoys himself sounds a real prince.
Eta - you seem really worn down with this man's bullying of you. Communicate through a parenting app only and go to CMS why are you agreeing to so little money stop letting him emotionally blackmail you!

Headteachers are used to that exact excuse. In fact my DC's headteacher made a joke about that exact scenario at the parents' induction evening every year. "It's funny how grandparents always seem to have funerals 2 weeks before the summer holidays, and always in Barbados."

Let him take them. Spending time with theur father is more important. Tell him your permission to take them out of the country is contingent upon his agreement to pay all fines and any additional costs including yours shoukd there be any.

Agree with this just tell them you didn't agree to this and the fine is to go to him.
You're not being unreasonable but the school holiday prices are unreasonable .

This all sounds very much like coercive control and gaslighting.
Please consider contacting Women's Aid for advice and support.
Good luck xx

Also, please put a claim through CMS. They can't control you if they have to go through the official channels. They will kick off about the passports anyway so might as well use the opportunity to make everything more formal.
Also, any threats or attempts at blackmail, log with the police ( non emergency unless imminent threat) so it also leaves a paper trail. The courts take a dim view of anyone who seeks to coerce and control former partners, especially putting the children in the middle.

Don't hand over those passports!
Also, contact the school and explain that you've refused to agree to the term time holiday but ex is threatening to take them and can the school advise/support.

That’s definitely it.

who has the passports now?

All of this and tell the school of his intentions. Have you a solicitor? If so you can ask them to hold the passports for you as safeguarding for now if you do not have another person whom you trust.

Your X is a bully and his wife is no better.
By threatening you and making late maintenance payments, he is still having control over you.
If you do decide to go to the police with this , even if they can’t do anything, they may be able to advise you on any agencies that could help you.