What is the current position on holidays in term time?

[redambergreen70]

We have always taken our two DC out of school to go on holidays in term time. We have been fortunate enough never to be fined by primary school, however DD will move to secondary this year.

Before I book for next year, can someone help me understand what stance secondary takes on this and what the potential consequences are please.

Don't do it in secondary. The teaching is a lot faster and it is a lot more difficult to catch up. Teachers can't willing to help with extra work or going over topics again.

I am sure they would fine you.

Probably worth phoning the school and asking. I expect high schools to be a lot firmer about it and I would expect fines

Secondary very likely to fine. And with the new rules the fine increases year on year / ultimately becomes prosecution. You have 13 school holiday weeks to go away. Use them.

I think it's 80 pounds per parent for the first absence then if you get another within the next three years it doubles to 160 per parent and then if you get a third you are prosecuted and will get a hefty fine. I think it really isn't worth it.

I just say my children are sick and take them anyway

These threads never end well - just lie - seriously - that's what you want to teach your child - probably the same youngster who then in their job pulls duvet days or just phones up sick when they want a day off

I wouldnt take out of secondary school - we've come back at midnight from a holiday when DS started year 8 the next day

No idea whether you would get fined but probably likely - depending on how much time you take out depends how many topics they will miss and have to catch up o their own

What a great way to teach children is to lie.

Surely you know what the consequences are. Your child will miss vital education and you will be fined. Plus I hate seeing children around when I go on my holidays during term time. I purposely book in term time...

Well if councils would stop trying to find parents then we wouldn't have to lie. I'd rather be honest but I'm not paying a fine

How do the school days missed for holidays differ from the vital education kids miss when they're sick?

Just don't take them out of school. You have ample holidays and 'family time'

School days go in the blink of an eye.

The position is that schools are not allowed to authorise holiday and have to submit a referral to the local authority for them to consider levying a penalty charge.

An additional factor is that many LAs are short of money and as the fine goes to them and not the school, it's a potentially useful source of additional income for them, so they are hugely more likely to go for the penalty charge now than not.

You get foned for taking 10 unauthorised sessions a year. So if they haven’t had any other time off yet. You could pick them up half day on a Monday, holiday til Sunday and get away with it as that would be 9 sessions.

Being sick is unavoidable. Going away is a choice. If you take your child out for X amount of days. Then if they have X amount of days off sick in the school year. It adds up.

I don't want to pay extra for the same holiday when they can miss a few days. It's very simple 🤷 Also, all parents fight for the school holidays to have annual leave so no I don't have ample holidays as I can't be off with my kids

Teachers and friends will help kids who miss class because of sickness, and the sick child can keep up with what there's missing through their text books when they're on the mend. Teachers not so keen on supporting kids who were out on holiday.

If the holiday is more than 5 days,you will be fined.

If they have more than 5 unauthorised days in a day week period, you will be fined.

If you have 2 fines in a 3 year period, it doubles.
Third time they can take you to court.

@Youcancallmeirrelevant - sick is usually a day or two which is very different to a 2 week holiday.

I'm not asking the teachers to catch my child up.

I imagine that secondary schools will be more strict than primaries

We have taken the primary aged DC out a day or two before the end of term to go on holiday, headteacher has always wished us a nice trip

Luckily our primary school (in SE London) does not fine parents

We have friends with primary DC who just pay the fine as part of the holiday cost

When DC1 starts secondary we’re going to be more careful/avoid missing school days

Where did I say I take a 2 week holiday? I don't think I've ever taken a 2 week holiday before or after kids

🤷‍♀️ school days, they're in school like 190 days of the year? Plenty of time to have opportunities with them to have fun. I wish people in this country valued education more. People in poorer countries would love to be educated like ours.

Councils have to fine because some parents don't value education, and don't put their kids interests first.

Then your child falls behind, this should matter.