Do you think headteacher would grant authorisation for this holiday?

[Pabberss]

My kids range from 8 to 14.

All my family are going away together. Parents, siblings, everyone to celebrate my parents wedding anniversary.

We have NEVER been on holiday before. Never been abroad. I'm a single mum and am on long term illness benefits. The most I've ever been able to do was haven.

My parents have offered to pay for us to come with. We'll they are covering 80%

They have already chosen dates that fit everyone's work timetables.
The high-school kids finish on the Thursday before summer 2020 and we would be leaving on the Tue.so they would miss 3 days.

I'm not really bothered about the missed days as for the last week they just watch films and colour in and have the end of year trips. The kids were bored out of their heads this year. So I feel no guilt.

But my younger kids don't break up till the following Wed. Half day.

So they would be missing 6.5 days of the end of term.

Do you think if I wrote to the head teacher and explained its a huge celebration for my parents, we have never been able to go abroad before, that we are getting our flights and accommodation paid for and this is the only opportunity my kids have had to go on a plane she will grant leave?

Does it count as exceptional?

They have never missed time for a holiday before. Ever.

I'm scared she will say no and we will be fined.

Can they fine their dad too? We are seperated. He would go mad.

Any advice is appreciated.

I think, given the circumstances, that it would be cruel not to let you go. But of course, the decision isn't mine to make.
If you can think of any benefits to their education (is it to somewhere with interesting history?), mention them in the request

Also does anyone know how the fines work?

Is it a certain number of days?

Is it broken by the weekend?

Would 4 days in one week then 2.5 the following count as one absence?

No - they can’t/won’t authorise it as, despite what you describe, it’s really not exceptional.

I doubt you’ll get fined, though, since it’s a one-off and you’ve never done it before. If you are fined, though, that’s all it would be and paying the fine would be worth the holiday maybe?

It won't be granted. A holiday is a holiday. That said I would go with bells on. Don't pass up the opportunity for a week off school. No child ever failed to get ahead by having a week off.

Obviously you can try to not be fined but I think it's a fine per child per day to each parent.

I don't think they will authorise it no.
But I don't think you will be fined. It's a one off, happy to be corrected but I thought fines were for serial offenders.
I've taken my 14 year old out for a couple of days and she just got four unauthorised sessions on her end of year report.

No it won’t be authorised.

But I do think it’s odd that GPS would organise a big holiday like this and not check the school dates first.

You may or may not be fined, we requested three days off for our secondary school age child, it was not authorised but we were not fined.

So what should I do?

Should I ask?

Or just keep them off?

Ragwort, there are about 20 children going. It would be impossible to accommodate everyone. Plus it's the time that all the adults could coordinate time off work.

These are the only dates that work for everyone.

Ragwort I'm sure the fine is only after 5 days. Probably why.

I’d go keep them off. If you have to phone in sick. 🤷‍♀️

I doubt they would authorise it.

Exceptional usually means to visit a terminally ill relative, go to a funeral, visit critically injured immediate family member etc.

I'd just call them in sick and set your social media to private for the holiday.

I think they fine you per child per parent so it could be very expensive for you 😕 and your ex. Can’t your parents change the dates to the school holidays? Look up your local authorities policy on term time holidays.

The decision to fine and the amount of the fine varies from school to school so, not knowing your area’s policies, we can’t really answer. My DCs’ school doesn’t seem to fine at all - there’s kids off on holiday during term time left right and centre and none of the parents have been fined. Then you hear about fines for one-off holidays in the press which have gone to court.

You’ll have to check what your school/s’ policies are on term time holidays and any fine system in place to help you make your decision.

I think though, regardless of the school, it still won’t get authorised. It is still ‘just’ a holiday. Authorised leave is hard to come by - either for medical appointments (but only sometimes) or things like gifted and talented programmes which clash with school hours. Never holidays.

No they won't authorise it. I'd still go though.

It won’t be authorised - but they won’t fine you if attendance is generally good.
Schools can only authorise in very exceptional circumstances. Even a funeral abroad is 3 days- two for travelling and one for the funeral.

In my school in wouldn’t be authorised but we might not fine you if you wrote explaining the situation. I would also ask for a meeting with the head.

Fines start from 4 days in my authority depending on current attendance. We will always fine when we discover that parents have called in sick but actually gone in holiday- we often find out!

It would not be treated as exceptional because your family could go in the school holidays. From the school's perspective there is no reason why your family are booking it in term time. If the schools/LA do fine then it is usual for both parents to be fined for each child. I suggest you point out the cost implications to your parents and ask if the dates can be moved to school holidays.

Depends on the school. The head of the primary near me has moral objections to fining parents and understands that going in term time is sometimes the only way families can afford a holiday.

5 days absence minimum may generate a fine (unless you have diabolical attendance before that but you'd know that in advance)

It's in the territory of getting a fine but the terminology is may. Ie your headteacher and the policy they are following (with assistance from their governors) may choose to fine or not.

In theory your ex should also be fined as a parent with parental rights. Again, depends on several factors, mostly based on school efficiency.

Ignore the system and go on holiday for the memories your children will hold are to be cherished their whole life and worth more than £120 (assuming you pay dad's fine!)

I don't think it will be authorised because none of your reasons are exceptional. You may get fined. Some LA will fine even for a few days. Mine doesn't usually fine for holidays alone. You may be able to find their policy online.

but they won’t fine you if attendance is generally good.

Not like this in my school. My Head fines parents regardless of attendance. She's a bit of a cow though ...

Do you have permission from their dad to take them out of the country? If we did fine you, we wouldn’t fine your ex if you took responsibility in your letter.

Contact the school you will get a holiday request form tell them your children will be absent this day till that day (then it is holidays) and send it in they may or maynot authorise it but least they know, i can'tcsee you getting fined and if they say no authorised what can the schools do ?

That's £120 per child in the primary

Yes I have permission but I wouldn't be able to find the fine money within 21 days.

I'll just have to make sure they have great attendance and cross my fingers.