Taking children out of school to visit family.

[northernshepherdess]

Hi,
Asking advice on someone elses behalf here.
A friend of ours applied to take his child out of school for one day for a holiday last year.
This was not only frowned upon but they have since been victims of bullying by staff at this particular school. (which already has a facebook campaign against the headmaster from long before that)
They attended a parents evening and were told when their 1 year old got a little bored and fidgetty, that his behaviour was like that as children from broken homes often have difficulty behaving themselves.
The school also delights in making the children, who do not bring their "pounds" for non school uniform contribution, change into PE kit. Thus, making it obvious they cannot afford it.
They also have an easter parade thing, which costs £3.50 per child which was initially held after school but due to poor uptake (rapport between school and parents mainly) they made it during the day. The children who do not bring the money are not allowed to take part and are pulled out of the celebrations to sit in a classroom and work.
As a double whammy, all parents who can claim school meals are told they must even if they do not have school meals as it brings extra funding...
Well the story really starts here, as due to the bullying nature of the school and particularly the headmaster, the parents involved did not ask his permission to take the children away from school for 5 days.
They were NOT on holiday, but were staying with their grandma for the first visit since the grandad died last year. Grandma paid for the flights and put them up and during their time there, they were mending some emotions but also the children were learning language, and adventuring with creatures etc.
As I said, this was not a beach/park holiday.
The school have decided that they are going to ask the LEA to fine the guardians, £50 per child per guardian which will be £300 for the family, plus £100 from the dad who lives elsewhere but who is listed as a guardian with the school.
I was wondering what the chances of appeal were, and asking for any general advice.
The children are 9, 6 and 6...(and the "baby")

It is normal for schools to request that families who are entitled to Free School Meals make the application - the school is allocated funds on the number of FSM children on roll. The more FSM children, the more £. The children don't HAVE to have the meal.

The attendance issue - unauthorised absence from school is punishable by fine by the LA and it is normal for this to happen. The LA make the decision to fine, not the school. It's sad that Grandad died, truly it is, but why not wait for the school holidays to go and see Grandma and benefit from the school education as well as the activities when they were away?

The only thing I can see is the comment about broken homes.

Anyway - had Dad requested holiday and been refused, he would then have had the chance to appeal the Head's decision as part of the proper process, I think once the legal process has started re fines, he cannot appeal.

Aside from all the other stuff going on, just to confirm that it is the norm for schools to fine for poor attendance.

HOWEVER most LAs issue a penalty warning notice before a fine notice and as long as the child is in school during the notice period they cannot fine. You wouldn't normally get an immediate fine for a one-off event.

Yes also agree wrt to FSM. Normal to ask for parents who are entitled to apply, whether they intend on taking meals or not.

[soverylucky Sun 26-Jun-11 21:53:51
I just don't believe it all. Sorry. For what you are saying to take place requires the co-operation of several members of staff. All the teachers I know (and that is loads since I am one) go to extreme lengths to let kids participate in activities regardless of income and to keep said disadvantage a secret. I think there is loads more to this story and we have just one side of it.]

Just spoken to the issuee of the £300 notice which has arrived. No other teachers were involved, the head teacher provided a copy of the register and a certificate saying it was correct. That is enough for him to issue the notice. No other teachers or governers are involved!

My son has 3 unauthorised absences last year, again at a different school, all which are school errors. 2 were informed dental appointments for which I had recieved school receipts and one was a teacher missed registration! If a certificate of registration was signed, his head would be signing a sworn statement saying he KNOWS it to be true that my son had the absences.

The notice is issued based on the school policy, nothing else. The education authority do not agree that a no authorised absence policy is acceptable but do support it if the head applies for an penalty notice.

[maddy68 Sun 26-Jun-11 22:02:46 Also regarding the school meals, the school get the funding regardless of whether the child actually eats the meal so it strikes me that they are trying to ensure that the free school meals kids get at least 1 good meal aday. Doesn't strike me as a bad school tbh.]

My daughter goes to a fabulous school, who also do this but not for the children, instead the dinner ladies get a glutonous serving of free dinner!

snicker Sun 26-Jun-11 21:36:07

your right snicker, it does not legitimise unauthorised absences.
However, how often can you feel strong enough to approach "your bully" and ask his permission for something.

When someone creates a nasty atmosphere, they make themselves very unapproachable.

I dont think a FB campaign is the right way to go, I am thinking of writing to the BOGov's myself.
I dont think this man feels bullied...He called all members of the group into school individually and warned them to remove or leave the group.
No the actions of a vunerable man.
However, many did leave the group, not as a result of adult discussion and change of heart but because they were told to in these meetings.
I would have my kids out of there in a second, but due to location, over subscriptions of schools and the fact its a poor community (blackburn) many parents do not have the option.

Issues should always be dealt with through the right channels - problem with the school? Go through the procedure with teacher / head / governors but NOT a FB campaign. Need time off? Put in written request including all details of death in family / family visit. Then, if the school did attempt to fine the mitigating circs would all be there. Doing things properley gives you the credibility to win when it goes higher.

Most lea's schools do have an obligation to give a warning first and according to the EA, it is bad practice not to do so...BUT...they are not legally obliged to do so, so they dont have to, and in this case they havent.

This school was also a striking school which was closed completely to all years!
POT=Black!