Have you taken dc out of school for a holiday

[sunsunpleasecomeout]

Dc 1 in primary and one in year 7 secondary and pricing up holidays and it's looking close to £1000 cheaper to take them out of school for 6 days.

Am I guaranteed a fine? How much would it be? Could I say they are unwell for the week?

Different local authorities have different approaches, some are more strict than others.

have you looked to see if it is possible to go part over half term and part term time? Out LA only fine above 10 missed sessions (5 days). So missing only 4 days would mean no fine….so we just stick under that number.
Overall though £60 per parent will probably still be way cheaper than paying to go in school holiday.

Ps I don’t think you could lie. I think schools appreciate people being truthful and you don’t want to ask children to lie.

My DSC were out of school for 2 weeks every single year and never had any fines, was never even threatened.

For those that have been fined, it's if per parent even if the parents aren't together? So let's say mum takes them away with her partner, does dad get charged as well even though he diddnt go?

Do most people who do this have a SAHP? For us part of the issue would be that would still have to cover childcare in the holidays, but having used up a week or more of annual leave in term time.

What about parental leave, do you have that?

We don’t we just hodge lodge through t the holidays with each taking leave here and there, grandparents helping for a couple of hours here and there, baby sitters and holiday clubs…and I flex my work a bit by doing extra hours in the term time and taking them back in holiday when possible.

For sure for single working parents or people with no school holiday care I can see it’s hard to do term time holidays though. Every school holiday I wonder how we managed the previous ones as our plans are so mish mash!

We did. They were yr 5, 3 and preschool. No big dramas, not authorised but we didn't get fined.

Fine to take out for a week

Not fine to make child lie about it

You will get a letter saying they won't approve and possible fine

Yes I have and will again. I’m a deputy head but work in a different LA with different term times. I’ve told the truth and just accept I may get fined.

I’d advise against lying though. I don’t think my school has ever fined anyone but we would likely visit the home if a child was off school I’ll for a week, even if parents were ringing every day just to make sure all was ok (I work in a school with lots of vulnerable students so being off for a week would be a red flag).

Yes. Did it last week, had almost two weeks away. It was much cheaper.

However we spent the whole time we museums and historical sites, which imo is much more educational than being in school.

We're in Ireland.

No. I wouldn't do it. I know many do though but I don't think it makes it right. We tend to go away when our school has inset days as they're different in every school so the trains/plains/holiday people don't know to increase the prices!

No of course not. Paying 1 week of childcare is still cheaper than a July or August holiday for the entire family.

I think it depends when. It's a balance between being able to afford a family holiday, which is an important thing, with ensuring your Yr7 especially, doesn't miss anything which might disadvantage them.

We've done it for a few days e.g tacked on to end of a half term, to make it cheaper or taking them out of school a day or two early at the end of the summer term. We just booked a holiday leaving the day DS2 breaks up, so he will just miss the morning, but it is £1200 cheaper than going the next day.

But you absolutely must be upfront about it with the school.