School fines?

[TTCbaby2x]

Hi

So I am planning to take my child to centre parks 4th May - 8th May (5 days)

The 4th of May is a bank holiday therefore he will miss 4 days of school + 1 bank holiday (his school is off on all bank holidays)

My questions is, will this still trigger a fine? He will of only missed 8 sessions not 10 but will the school/council still class the bank holiday as a day missed and fine us?

When I tell the school I will be telling them he is off 5th - 8th May (4days) as they know he is off anyway for the bank holiday.

Thanks

In theory no, as it’s less than 10 sessions, however the sessions can be calculated over a rolling 10-week period, so again in theory yes if your child has unplanned time off in this period (i.e illness) on top of your booked trip.

@LML1989AL illness is an authorised absence isn't it? So it wouldn't count towards a fine?

illnesses can be changed to unauthorised if you can’t supply evidence, so air on the side of caution & don’t exceed 10 absences (authorised or not) within 10 weeks

In theory they can fine for any number of missed sessions but they don’t normally fine until you get to 5 days.

In theory they can fine for any number of missed sessions but they don’t normally fine until you get to 5 days.

Look at your LEAs website, that will tell you how fines are calculated. In our LEA it’s only unauthorised absences which total 10 sessions missed (ie five school days) weekends and bank holidays don’t count and presumably you’ll be saying it’s from X date till X date as the dates missed, again don’t put down the bank holidays as your start date. But do double check, as I believe there that it’s not a uniform policy. Our LEA also fine per parent per child, eg 2 x kids + 2x parents (so £65 x4) but again it was ages ago, so double check how it’s calculated.

I don't think you will be fined, though I think your child should be in school instead of an expensive waterpark with activities.

I am also taking mine to CO in Feb so im following this thread. Hoping we dont get a fine

@LlynTegid get a life 😂

You're very unlikely to get a fine for 4 days if your child has otherwise good attendance.

I’ve taken mine out several times for 4 days. I’ve always been very clear it’s for a holiday and given plenty of notice. It’s an unauthorised absence 🤷🏻‍♀️ but never had a fine.

@mindutopia Thank you!!

As a one off, it will be fine. I'd maybe be extra carful about attendance for the rest of the year though, and send in proof of illness/appointments if they do need to be off.

That is not true. The statutory guidance on it is very clear that evidence should only be asked for in exceptional circumstances.

Yes, so evidence can be asked for.

Only if they have a “genuine and reasonable doubt about the authenticity of the illness”.

It also says that schools have to mindful that when an illness isn’t treated by health professionals (like a standard vomiting bug or something) the schools can consider a conversation with the parents to be the evidence required.

Yes, so evidence can be asked for.

They should genuinely and reasonably doubt it though, as it's not true. The child going back and discussing a great time on holiday might be a giveaway.

Op you might be fined, or you might not. Be careful about more occurrences though, as the fines increase.

Just assume you will be fined and budget for that.

I think the national threshold is 10 sessions missed in a 10 week period. The bank holiday wouldn’t count. So you won’t be fined provided there are no other unauthorised absences within a 10 week period that includes your break.

It depends on the LEA, ours are fining now for 3 days.