Can schools issue fines for absence during very hot weather?

[CanTheyFine]

I’m planning to keep my dc off tue/wed/thu due to the heat - can schools actually fine for this ? Or is it only for holidays that they do this ? Or do you have to have at least 10 unauthorised sessions ?

@durdledoristhey absolutely can. It is down to the LAs individual discretion. Just like they can take you straight to court rather than issuing the second fine. There are countless Facebook pages clearly stating the rules. Saying you can only be fined for 10 missed sessions is spreading mis information.

Of course it is. It's too hot, that's a perfectly good reason.

They can't fine for one day. It's my job and l know this so don't tell me l am wrong - unless different LA's have different rules .

@durdledorisand it’s my job as a parent to ensure I know the rules. I said many times it was down to the LAs individual discretion. So in my LA, I was fined for 3 days despite good attendance. My colleague was fined for one day as she was honest and said they were attending a football game. This isn’t one size fits all, you can be fined for one day.

well if you and your children have both conditions i am amazed you are not better educated about the risks .

Jesus Christ surely you can understand that children with severe asthma are infinitely safer at home with their parents who can manage it closely? OP isn’t asking for judgement on her decision, she’s asking a technical question about absence.

I think the issue is getting children to and from school. I have an air conditioned car but I imagine many don't, and so have to walk or use public transport. Probably bearable at 8am but not so much at 3.30pm in 38 degrees.
I also don't understand why so many schools seem to be doing half days - so people make the effort to get there, then they send the children outside in the middle of the day when the sun is worst?
It's unprecedented weather. I'd say do what is the right thing for your family, don't worry about fines or missing a couple of days. Personally I think mine will be better off going to school as I can get them there and back in relative comfort and they'd be no cooler at home and without the distraction of friends, but totally get it's different for everyone.

What a horrible post - go away

OP just keep them off - you won’t get fined for that amount. They have valid medical reasons.

So you know the rules but broke them anyway!

@durdledorisi did, on the understanding that it was 10 missed sessions. So it was then an education upon challenging the fine, that they can indeed use their own discretion. We went the last 3 days of summer term, missing sports day, the school disco and the party day. No learning missed. But fined regardless, which is why I wanted the OP to understand that she can be fined for taking her kids out for 3 days without good reason (which in her case, health wise I would argue she has), saying she can’t would be misleading.

Have you read the OP - the heat causes medical issues. Why would she send them to cause them more harm?
I imagine many parents will make the sensible decision of not sending their DC’s into school during a red alert.

Half days are because the heat will be worse mid afternoon than at midday.

Unauthorised.

But I agree with other comments here. Why don't you think she will be safe at school ?

I don't get it. They will have all the precautions in place.

What precautions are schools putting in place? They don’t have air conditioning, access to chilled water and the ability to keep cool

Wow, people get very upset about the idea of someone else's child missing school. 😂

The precautions will just be staying inside all day and telling them to drink. It’s actually awful being at school when it’s so hot.

They do! This is why so many of the threads on here about people keeping their kids off for sports day turn into absolute corkers.

They absolutely do have access to chilled water and children will be encouraged to drink plenty all day.

Uniform is likely to be pe kit and sun hat.
Apply cream regularly.
Extra shade erected in the playground.
Indoor lunch time offer if necessary.
Encourage the children not to run around and take it easier outside.

Maybe not air con but how many households have that either ?

More than zero, but also most households don't contain 30 people in a room.

I'm assuming you've not read all of OPs posts, as she's explained the health conditions involved, but even setting that aside it's very obvious that there's a limit to what 'precautions' a school without air con is going to be able to offer.

It will simply be too hot. We don't have either systems or buildings designed to safely accommodate 30 children in a room at 38 degrees.

My school does not have access to chilled water or extra shade in the playground.

Indeed! I did 4 A levels and an extra O level that summer! The start of hay fever - with sneezing so severe it resulted in spectacular nosebleeds - made it even more interesting.

Bloody lucky it wasn't as hot as this week will be, or your nosebleeds might've been even worse!

As someone else has advised, tell the school that it aggravates their conditions and keep them off.

I’m so sick of the judgement I’ve heard the past few days. As a parent you know your children best.

I know!