unauthorised holiday ...so cross

[lostlilly]

5 days I requested, I finished my degree last year and we havent had a holiday for 5 years!!! my dd is SO excited about going on a plane she burst into tears when I got the letter saying unauthorised. It states her attendance is 100% but it is unauthorised. I am really cross, we have to pay a fixed penalty, as if anyone can afford that at the moment!

My DH, a secondary head, agrees entirely with MrsHeffley's views on the value of family holidays, consequently he always authorises.

I think the school are being very harsh OP. She is 8 not doing GCSEs! Have you been told that a penalty notice will defiantly be issued OP? I know that the head at DDs school has not authorised absenses in the past but does not refer these to the council to issue fines in most cases.

It is worth checking with local council to see what the criteria for penalties is. I know on our local gov website it is 'a minimum of 10 unauthorised absenses in a 10 week period' but fines may be considered for circumstances outside this.

It's all about OFSTED and stats and that's all they care about.

I would speak to the head and explain your circumstances. It really sounds like you could do with some family time...life's too short.

My Husband is self employed. His busiest times are in the School holidays (bouncy castle hire), so going on holiday when the kids are off is totally out of the question.

My younger Son is in primary School, and they always authorise holidays, as long as it is no longer than 10 days in a year. My older Son is in yr 9, and his School will no longer approve any holiday(we don't get a fine, but they will soon start this).

If we didn't take our dc's out of School for holidays, they would never have a holiday, because we simply couldn't afford it.

We went to centre parcs in Feb, it cost us £249 for a midweek. The week before (half term) would have been £900 for exactly the same holiday, and DH would have lost a few hundred pounds in earnings. How can we justify that?

We have three children, 14, 9 and 15 months. We will have to consider what's happening in School for each of them for many years to come, but we will always try to give them a hoilday, it's part of their childhood, we are making memories for them, and you can't 'go back and do it agiain'.

Family holidays are so very important. Op, please go and have a good time, and don't worry about this, life really is too short.

Lockets- family holidays are important they is sometimes the only chunk of time families get to spend together. My DH just can't switch off at home with, phone, email etc. he's always at work even at home. If its not work then its stuff needs doing around the house so we never switch off at home. I'm not saying the ONLY quality family time= 2 weeks on a beach but it is nice to have some special time and those lovely memories.

Why are you asking permission? It's your DD, your choice. I would just write and tell them.

Dear HT,

I am writing to inform you that DD will be absent from school from date to date inclusive.

Yours, lostlily

Well quite possibly things have changed field trip wise in the last ten years ;) since I've been there, but there were field trips to theme parks and suchlike.

I also took time off during secondary school. Waayyy more than a week in the sun. I ended up going to a Russell group university at a time when a lot less people went to university.

Instead of penalising people for having a week's holiday (which I pretty much guarantee that will not destroy their chances in life), why not focus on why some students are habitual truants and how we can HELP them be at school more. If we are so worried about the kids missing out educationally, how about adopting the scheme I mentioned before where parents have a contract with the school to get work done and turned in. You are counted as truant if the work is not completed in the proper time frame.

This sounds more like the LA raising money.

I like the homeschool option. "I'm going to homeschool my child until the end of the school year" "For 8 days?" "yup".

we took last tuesday off because it was hot and sunny (we're in scotland it's never hot and sunny in the holidays) and we spent the day half naked at the beach. it was wonderful. holidays started on monday and it's been snow/blizzards. i phoned in and said he'd been coughing all night again (which he had) and that what he needed was fresh air and sunshine, so he wouldn't be in. they gave us authorised absence. he's P1.

enjoy your holiday, unauthorised or off sick - whatever you go for.

I would just go and not pay the fine. (Easy for me to say as any time i have requested hols it has been granted!) How are they going to enforce a fine? They aren't going to take you to court are they! What is the fine? About £50? Take it out of the money you saved on a cheaper hol.

Lostlilly, totally in support of you. I bet your daughter will learn more by the experience of having a holiday than she would be staying in school for those 5 days. I know my children always benefitted so much by having holidays - new people, new places, new food, new language, new culture, visiting museums and attractions and generally learning a great deal. Have a wonderful time.

Lockets - holidays ARE important to us as a family. Holidays enhance your childhood imo. I look back on my childhood, and the times I remember most are when we were all together experiencing different things on holiday. I want that for my children.

My Dad died last year. Up until then, we went away every year with our children and my Mum and Dad. We all had such a great time together, something we will never be able to do again with him, but I am so grateful that my children have those lovely memories, that they speak of often.

Am I sorry I took my children out of school for a week per year so they can now have those precious memories? NO.

wow over 200 posts....! the post about the same holiday at Centre parcs costing £249 one week and £900 the week before (half term) is disgraceful and proves the point exactly.......even if I could afford it, there is no sense in paying three times the amount for the same holiday Centre parcs should be ashamed.
I Am going, I HAVE booked and were really looking forward to it, I havent responded to the school yet, I will just take her and and remind them nearer the time that she will be off for that week. My dd, my decision

Go and enjoy yourself. I think the fixed penailty is a step too far - the school are being over the top.

change schools maybe? your present school is unreasonable and have over reacted with fine! How much will fine be?

our school allows up to 2 weeks in one go by the way