Taking DS on holiday year 1, how does it work?

[dhisaknob]

We're planning on going on holiday end of September as august is just too much with all 3 kids now. DS will in year 1 when we go, how does it work? If I request the week I'm guessing they will reject it. But if I was to go anyway I'm assuming I will be fined. How much is the fine etc?

Thanks

I think it's £60 per parent ?

It's going up to £120 but I don't know when.

That's really disgusting they are practically punishing parents that can't afford it in the holidays! Still cheaper than going in august though I suppose.

I know quite a few parents that do this and just take the child anyway. Not if they are in important years etc.

Some have received fines each time, some not. Although I’m sure I read about a push on acting on fines. But like you said it’s still probably cheaper than the ridiculous prices in the holidays!

Budget the £120 fine into your holiday (£60 per parent)

If you go to your council website and search school attendance you should be able to find the policy.

This is ours www.leicester.gov.uk/media/178604/penalty-notices-2013updated.pdf

Yes, write to the school. They will say no, you say thanks for the info we will be away x date to y date. You may or may not get fined.

Look up your county’s policy- mine says it will fine after more than 15 half days of absence and only after the school has sent a formal warning.

so that tells me you can take a week and a bit off, and you would be wise not to tell them until very close to the date so they don’t have time to send you a warning 😂

I just add the fine into the holiday budget. I write to the school to say MiniSirSam will be away from x date to y date, for a family holiday. I don't phrase it as asking permission, as I know I won't get permission, so it's pointless. I am notifying them of a planned absence.

Schools are able to give you permission I think it's rare. My neighbour got 2 weeks granted for 2 of their DC.

I wrote a letter to DS school and handed it in a few weeks before. The school confirmed with me on the last day of flying and said they would pass it onto the council. School policy is an automatic decline for holidays at DS school.

I read that the fine had doubled so it could be £120 for both parents or £240!

Google your LAs policy.

if you could have 4 days off rather than 5 than you’d avoid the danger of the fine as the fine has to be for consecutive absences of 10 or more sessions. Am/on is one session.

Just so you know though September is one of the times schools ask parents not to take children off due to the issues with regards settling into new classes.

If you are going to do this, then I would suggest not picking September - it's a key time for getting children settled into new classes, used to the new teacher and into new routines.

Also, you may need to rethink your holiday plan (assuming the Year 1 child is your oldest). If you've been used to going away every year, then this may not be possible with school holiday prices, and as the DC get older it becomes less and less acceptable to take them out of school.

One morning and afternoon counts as part of the 5 days. Its really rubbish because I thought I would be able to do it like that also.