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Original poster

Do you think headteacher would grant authorisation for this holiday?

98 replies

Pabberss · 09/08/2019 08:50

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.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 09/08/2019 09:43

Talk to the Head. There may be a form to fill in. At least then you know well in advance what the school’s response is. And lots of time to save up in advance if there is a fine!

matahairyy · 09/08/2019 09:43

I’ve seen prosecutions where the kids have pretended to be ill but their mates have grassed them.
I was a bit like 🤔 but apparently all that needs to be proved is their not in school.
Stupid parents didn’t pay the fine

benfoldsfive · 09/08/2019 09:44

@ElphabaTheGreen I guess I saw long term sick and made some assumptions about health and costs. I haven't slept in 4 days 🤪

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matahairyy · 09/08/2019 09:47

Just fill the form in. Schools get loads of these. You don’t need to meet the Head

Hoppinggreen · 09/08/2019 09:54

Won’t be authorised but the Head may not refer it for a fine, unfortunately nobody here can tell you whether they will or not.
Our Head occasionally authorises something exceptional, we have had permission for 1 day to go to an embassy for a passport and 1 day for DS to watch his sister perform at a national event. We recently took 5 days off for a holiday and The Head, bless her, authorised 1 so it didn’t trigger a fine referral. I would say though that if I ever do get a fine ( and I know of some who have) I would just pay up. I know the rules and if I choose to break them and get fined it’s fair enough

Beamur · 09/08/2019 09:55

It's unlikely to be authorised.
Be polite and inform the school, don't be too dramatic and be prepared to pay a fine.
Have a lovely time!

theSnuffster · 09/08/2019 09:57

I'd fill in the forms, explain your reasons. I'd imagine many head teachers wish they could authorise for reasons like this but simply aren't allowed.

We were authorised one day once because the children were both part of their Aunt's wedding ceremony- if they'd just been guests it wouldn't have been authorised.

Our holiday on the other hand, where they missed two days, was not authorised (I hadn't expected it to be.) It wasn't enough days to trigger a fine but if it had been I'd have paid it, we saved a lot more than that in flying two days before half term started. Although it was only a week in Spain it was a special trip for us, our first time abroad and took several years to save for so certainly won't be a regular occurrence unless we win the lottery!

RedSkyLastNight · 09/08/2019 10:02

Will your oldest be in Year 10? Asking as my Year 10 DC was working on GCSE coursework in the last week if the summer term. It would not have been a good time to take him out ...

pjmask · 09/08/2019 10:04

Hi op! Nobody can give you a definite answer I'm afraid as each local authority varies. I can tell you that my sister and I both took our kids out for 6 days, both had 100% attendance. She and her husband were fined, I wasn't. No idea why. These were two separate schools, five miles apart, same local authority.

ItWentInMyEye · 09/08/2019 10:05

I took my 3 out of school for a 2 week holiday to France last year, only got fined for one child and contested it due to them making errors in the letter. Never paid a penny! They also didn't try and fine his dad (my ex). I'd go if I was you. Maybe try and save a bit of money till you go to cover the potential fines?

bobstersmum · 09/08/2019 10:08

We've had two days authorised to visit a poorly grandparent who lives in Wales, we are in England. I don't think you'll get 6 days. Our school let's you take 4 days for holiday I believe although it's not authorised they do not fine. I would still go though in your situation, I would make an appointment to see the head and explain honestly, at least if it's not authorised you have nothing to hide.

ragmayo · 09/08/2019 10:09

It's down to the head teachers discretion. The fact that it's your first ever holiday, not to mention a once in a lifetime holiday with all the family will definitely go in your favour. Point out that it will cause severe financial hardship if you are fined, not to mention the stress from your ex if he is.
I think you should definitely go. Maybe get advice in the meantime from cab just in case. Hope you all have a lovely time

ineedaholidaynow · 09/08/2019 10:12

I don’t think it’s the first ever holiday for OP’s children but the first ever holiday abroad. Many people can’t afford to go abroad, it’s not a reason to authorise a holiday.

VivaLeBeaver · 09/08/2019 10:14

Some schools are more relaxed about "authorising" holidays.

DD finished her A levels this year and I bought her and her boyfriend tickets to Paris for a long weekend to celebrate in July. Boyfriend dumped her and Eurostar agreed to change the name on the booking and she took her friend instead who was the year below so hadn't broken up. The school said she was fine to go, said it sounded educational as they were planning to go to lots of art galleries. Now whether on the paperwork it was marked as "unauthorised" but they just didn't get the LEA to fine I don't know. But the impression I got was that the school authorised it.

Are there any art galleries, historical monuments, etc near where you're going so you can say you're taking them to see xyz and it will be a culturally enriching experience?

Auntpetunia2015 · 09/08/2019 10:14

Currently working in education welfare team, I can tell you they won’t authorise the holiday regardless of any circumstances it’s the law and they have to follow it. Any holiday over 5 days will result in a fine. It’s 60 per parent per child. Can you just factor that in? The high school children will be ok as they only loose 3 days.

Mummyshark2018 · 09/08/2019 10:15

It's highly unlikely the 6.5 days will be authorised as anything over 5 days causes alarm.
I have requested term time only leave (3 days was the maximum) and it's been granted. I have stressed that family flying in from all over the world (true), that difficult to schedule everyone's diaries with different school holidays. Children would miss out on seeing family/ meeting family they've never met. Asked for school work which they can catch up on (never been given any) and have given some examples in the request letter of how the trip would be educational.

roseapothecary · 09/08/2019 10:15

It's the LA who decide whether to fine or not, not the school. Do you know anyone who has taken a term time holiday at your child's school you can ask about it? The fine is £60 per child, per parent. Maybe start saving now to cover the £120 for each child in case you get fined (probably wouldn't be until the following term).

Rivkka · 09/08/2019 10:16

No they won't authorise that.

I'd go if you can afford the fines.

VivaLeBeaver · 09/08/2019 10:16

If they do fine both you and your ex I think you will have to pay his fine. It's not fair on him otherwise.

Have to say I do think such fines should take split parents into account and only fine the one who goes on holiday. I know they don't but it seems very unfair on the other parent.

Sleepyblueocean · 09/08/2019 10:19

We have had a school authorise a holiday because of ds's sn being an exceptional circumstance but generally a holiday wouldn't be classed as one.

ememem84 · 09/08/2019 10:22

Don’t call in sick. You’d have to ask the kids to lie to the school etc.

I would just go and pay the fine if given. Start saving up the rough cost for the fine

matahairyy · 09/08/2019 10:24

DO NOT do the culturally enriching bullshit please
I have read too many of them

School attendance is an absolute offence - they are either there or not

Milicentbystander72 · 09/08/2019 10:24

I'm a link Governor for Attendance at a Secondary School.

It's extremely unlikely that it will be authorised. However I would still do it. Plenty of children are off much more than this and will be a huge cause for concern. If your dcs have attendance normally and are doing well it will only reduce their attendance figures for that school year.

It's possible you'll get an 'attendance concern' first letter but that not much to worry about if the holiday is a one off.

My own dd has had nearly 2 weeks off with illness this year. I've had 2 letters myself. It can't be helped.

Don't miss the holiday. Just suck up the attendance dropping. The school won't like it but 🤷🏻‍♀️.

campingaddict · 09/08/2019 10:27

They won't authorise it but if the kids have good attendance then you should t get fined. I've done it twice (mon-fri) and never been fined

VivaLeBeaver · 09/08/2019 10:30

Just to warn you one school/LEA near here is/was fining per child, per parent, per session. Each day counts as 2 sessions.

So if you had 2 kids who missed a week - that's 10 sessions each. So £600 fine per child and then double it as both parents got fined.

Someone was appealing and I have no idea of the outcome. And I always wondered if it was the LEA who sets the fine why I was told it was this one school doing this when others weren't. Maybe the school were just saying to scare people? Doesn't seem right you could be fined over 2k!

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