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Original poster

Would you be honest with school regarding holiday?

67 replies

namechange085 · 02/12/2022 13:36

DD will miss two days of school after February half term due to us being on holiday and it being a lot cheaper to fly home a couple of days later.
For them two days I could just ring school and say she isn't well enough to come in or I could request the holiday knowing it will 100% be rejected and go down as unauthorised. I was planning to ring up but recently read a thread where someone got caught for some reason school rang them.
WWYD?

OP posts:
shard5 · 02/12/2022 15:26

It's 2 days so you won't get fined. In England it 5 full days so 10 sessions over a term that means the school can ask the council to consider fining. It'll go down as unauthorized but otherwise you risk getting caught out lying.
The children may not tell the teacher but are bound to speak to friends and word spreads fast.

CaptainMyCaptain · 02/12/2022 15:33

NameChangeLifeChange · 02/12/2022 14:25

Depending on the age of the kids won’t they immediately bounce through the door telling everyone about their holiday they just got back from? That is 100% what mine would do…!

Yup!
Teacher: Hello, are you feeling better today?
Child: huh?
Teacher: You were poorly yesterday.
Child: No, I've been on holiday.
Teacher. Oh OK. (Doesn't really care anyway because she doesn't make the rules and doesn't have to send attendance data to LA)

Lambtales · 02/12/2022 15:35

Ivyblu · 02/12/2022 15:20

Has the fine now gone up to £120? I thought it's per parent the fine is that why it was £240?

When was this please?

Show quote history

I should have been clearer, we were fined for 2 children. £60 per child, per parent.

No 3 child had their request approved (SEN school).

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General education
TurquoiseDress · 02/12/2022 16:05

Ivyblu · 02/12/2022 15:15

You don't get a fine for under 5 days or the possibility of more than 5 days.

It's only 2 days, find out your holiday policy and ask another school mum to check for you. It's not worth the lie really. You just need to write a summary to INFORM the school because most schools decline anyway.

I plan to take DS out for a 9 day holiday next year! I will just inform them about it.

Yes this is the key thing- you're writing to inform them that the kids will miss school due to going on holiday

It's not a request or anything, presuming flights/things are booked, they WILL be going away & missing school- you'll just be informing school about this etc

ChillyFingers · 02/12/2022 16:13

We just had to fill out a request form when we took DS out for 8 school days earlier this year. Knew it wouldn’t be authorised and knew we’d get a £60 fine as over 5 days in a row. No biggie. Holiday was £2.5k cheaper to take at that time so cost effective. Parents evening was at that time and we did it remotely from our hotel room.

For two days, it’ll go as unauthorised assuming you in England but you won’t be fined. Just tell them and fill out the form. They don’t really care, unless there are exams or SATS, it’s just for attendance figures.

Bluevelvetsofa · 02/12/2022 16:33

Please don’t lie. It’s not an example to se your child. There are many head teachers who don’t agree with fines, but have no choice. 4 sessions won’t trigger a fine.

NoSquirrels · 02/12/2022 16:36

Just inform the school they won’t be back until X date.

That’s it. No lies required.

Ivyblu · 02/12/2022 16:38

@Lambtales thanks! I did hear in summer that the fine was going to be raised to £120 per parent.

It's funny how it works. I've been away this year and I didn't get a fine I just told the school I think they are more interested in the welfare of your child which is fair enough.

Whaleandsnail6 · 02/12/2022 16:47

I wouldn't I'd be too scared of getting found out.

I read a story in the news the other day (I think it was a mumsnet thread picked up by a paper actually!) Where someone had told school the kids were ill,school rang her phone and it was an international dialling tone. I'd be mortified if I got caught out like that.

FourTeaFallOut · 02/12/2022 16:50

Whaleandsnail6 · 02/12/2022 16:47

I wouldn't I'd be too scared of getting found out.

I read a story in the news the other day (I think it was a mumsnet thread picked up by a paper actually!) Where someone had told school the kids were ill,school rang her phone and it was an international dialling tone. I'd be mortified if I got caught out like that.

Why, what awful thing do you think would happen?

Neighneigh · 02/12/2022 16:53

I was in assembly last Friday and a kid won an award. Little girl shouted "SHE'S NOT HERE SHE'S AT CENTRE PARCS"

Tell the truth. For two days it's really not worth it.

LimeCheesecake · 02/12/2022 16:54

I would lie about being sick. However, I’d wait until you were away and send a message saying “we are on holiday at the moment, but due to issues with flights, we won’t be able to travel back until Tuesday, the children will be back in on Wednesday.” You aren’t asking your dcs to lie about being sick, they went on holiday then came back on Tuesday/Wednesday.

Ivyblu · 02/12/2022 17:00

@LimeCheesecake there is no need to lie OP will not be fined. Its only 2 days of school being missed.

There's a huge fear and misunderstanding about taking your child on holiday in school time I know people often flame others on here for doing it I've been on the end of that one also. So people panic without knowing the actual process!

ThisGirlNever · 02/12/2022 17:03

A teacher I know bumped into a family, with their baggage, at the train station a few days before the end of term. The mother fronted it it and said hello. The dad looked really sheepish.

My friend didn't say anything about it.

I wouldn't worry too much about the kids letting it slip. I doubt the teachers care about a couple of days at the start/end of holidays.

MajorCarolDanvers · 02/12/2022 17:07

We always tell the school the truth - in Scotland so no fines. There is no point lying as children will talk about their holidays and the teacher will find out that way anyway.

Usually get a reply to tell us to have a lovely holiday.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 02/12/2022 17:10

Set a good example to your dc by telling the truth.

2 days is 4 sessions. Unless you do this regularly you’re very unlikely to get a fine.

Swanchaser · 02/12/2022 17:11

I speak from experience of working in a school.....so many times I have asked a child if they feel better....they look puzzled and tell me they were on holiday at centre parcs, or skiing, or wherever else the parents had taken them!

Original poster
namechange085 · 02/12/2022 17:52

Thanks everyone I have decided I will just be honest. I have checked the policy and I would only be fined if it was over 5 days.

I wasn't planning to tell DD to lie as I thought even if she does talk about her holiday it would have been over half term. However I didn't think about teachers asking how she is feeling. If they do that she will definitely give it away.

OP posts:
whatapalavaaa · 02/12/2022 18:05

Tell the truth. The dc always come into class saying oh I wasn’t meant to say anything but I was on holiday. Makes the parents seem ridiculous as they really believe they’ll keep quiet 🙄

asblindasabat · 02/12/2022 18:24

Don’t lie. Just be honest. It’s only two days, it’s not the end of the world.

If you lie and they happen to ring you, they will know by the international dialing tone - I’m just working on the assumption that you will be holidaying outside the UK.

Better to be truthful.

tsmainsqueeze · 02/12/2022 18:27

I have lied and will do again if needs be regarding holidays.
I take my child's education seriously and her attendance is excellent , she is currently on a non educational school trip in Europe , i will not be dictated to by an education authority that fines me for 'doing my own thing ' but allows 'fun' trips in school time, so if i need to ring in sick i will , not often at all and only for a couple of days at the most and not every year.
Life is for living and school is not the only place for education , i'll decide whats best for my family.
I also have no problem with my child knowing that i am lying to avoid a fine.

bluesky45 · 02/12/2022 18:28

I'm a teacher. I've had kids lie about going on holiday. A very convenient sickness bug for the last 2 days of term with a cousin in the same class telling me said child had gone to Spain! Nothing happened, just went down as ill on the register.

LlynTegid · 02/12/2022 18:34

Be honest.

I don't agree with fines incidentally. I'd just take passports away from those who persistently do this, after a court appearance.

BeyondMyWits · 02/12/2022 18:35

You've booked for the school holidays... when you get back, tell them...

Your plane home was delayed by strike/staff shortage/flight crew going over time limit
Someone got sick so you had to delay the flight home
You missed the flight and had to come home a couple of days late

Or tell them beforehand that you are away.

Ivyblu · 02/12/2022 18:56

LlynTegid · 02/12/2022 18:34

Be honest.

I don't agree with fines incidentally. I'd just take passports away from those who persistently do this, after a court appearance.

I know it's each to their own and all.... but I don't get the fuss. Just because you send your child to school all year doesn't make you mother of the year, it doesn't even mean you sit and do your child's homework with them or participate in any extra education outside of school. I mean I think it's odd personally your stance, infact it really F.... me right off.

I understand that people don't want to do it but getting annoyed with others who do it, I honestly just feel like they need to wind their necks in they always seem a tad jealous.

Life's too short to grudge others choices
.