OMG. Are these 'penalty notices' for taking children out of school in term time legally enforceable?

[Utterlyastoundedmum]

Not interested in having a debate about whether it is 'right' to take a child out of schol, in term time for holidays etc. just wanting to know whether they can be enforced from a legal perspective.

I have just read the latest school newsletter and am to be honest, very annoyed indeed to find that as of September the school are changing its policy on authorising absences. Until now it's always been on a case by case basis but now they are saying no absence will be authorised whatsoever no matter what, except for one day for weddings ( with proof!)

The penalty is £60 or £120.

Not very fair on any parents such as myself who booked a holiday for a week in October as we really CANNOT get away in half term this year.

I will not be paying unless this is legally enforcible!!

I realise it is paid for via taxes mainly council tax. I just think it gives the child a bad message that it is OK to pick and choose whn you attend school. Why not take a day off for shooping nut really much difference?

In DS' last year of primary, the ht stood on stage preaching about attendance and how only kids with high attendance could learn and progress.

She stood next to my child who had just won the school prize for highest achiever - both on sats levels and sporting achievement - who had missed 6 weeks of school that year due to swine flu then chicken pox. Shemust have known the irony, but probably had no choice due to these stupid ofsted and government rules.

It is ok to pick and choose. The ability to judge what matters to you is one of the consequences of having an educated mind.

There is a much fair and simpler way to deal with holidays during term time if the government really wanted to. Instead of a fine they could terminate the child's place at the school for breach of contract.

The school place would then become available for any other child waiting. If it was still available on return from holiday, the family could re-apply. It would make most people think twice if they knew they were risking losing a place in school.

But the government don't want that, they just want to force schools into their own agenda.

And what the Prince of Cambridge said ^

It isn't teaching them to pick and choose though is it? Not if their attendance is otherwise good. It is teaching them that everyone deserves a break from work/school.

You go and pay the fine. You save miles more going in term time than the fine anyway. Tis what I'll be doing if needed.

People are acting like you are going to be stopped going. You aren't, just fined. They want you to go, it creates more money for them.

Summerblaze, at £60 per parent per day per child, that would stop many families.

Put a pound away a week each parent until your holiday. You won't miss the fine then!

Or do as I am planning and hold a bake sale outside the school gates to raise the funds.

Sounds rather like the schools in my area. They even get pedantic about my child having ONE day off sick and won't ever authorise even that one day. She had norovirus over the weekend and into monday, phoned the school to day she was sick and they said unless there was proof she was ill it would go down as unauthorised. So far she has had 4 days of sick in 7 months, and they count each day as TWO days so she is missing 8% of her attendence certificate all for being sick

I can understand why they have clammped down, but all i have seen so far is decent parents penelized for having a very short break and obviously my dd who was actually sick, probably caught by the school missing out on the trip organized for %100 attendees-She is 4, these rules are dracorian and quite simply a way for gov to rake money in as the feckless will continue to take their children out of school as they don't care about their childs welfare or paying a fine

but there are plenty of days for a break in the school holidays?

I will

He already knows that and not paying £1500 just to confirm it

That's the problem, holidays are expensive in half term. Most cannot afford holidays to that cost, so their children will miss out time and time again. Life is too short

It gives a child the message that regardless of what you should be doing you are entitled to usurp rules as long as you think you know best.

Oh yes, and because you know best you shouldn't be subject to the penalties that the rules now dictate.

So hang on my child should be in school in September yet the education authority do not have a place and not likely to October half term

So how comes that's ok but yet holidays are not

Vickibee, it's more expensive in the holidays, and our summer weeks aren't always the best weeks to visit certain places. If you were going someone for a specific event, you go when it's happening.

anklebiter, I do know what's best for me and my family. How awful to be a grown adult in this country and happy to let other people make all your decisions for you.

Oh no, I don't mind being subject to the penalties and I shall pay them. And I do know best. For MY child. Don't be misled into thinking that this little exercise is for any other reason than a: creating more revenue for the government and b: making sure that the poorer amongst us can't afford a family holiday. They aren't doing this for the welfare of your children, anklebiter, so don't labour under that misapprehension.

Well clearly it's not ok TheHumanCatapult.

You haven't chosen to not have your child in school though, have you? They haven't been able to allocate you one. Beyond reprehensible I agree, but not the same.

Well if it is so important that no state-educated child misses ANY of their term-time, I do hope that TheHumanCatapult's LEA have made arrangements for some home tutoring?

Exactly what marmalade said.

Do none of you supporters of this actually realise the gove does not care, they care about money.
This is an easy way of them making money, as they know a fine still makes a cheaper holiday than going in half term. Basically they will rake it in. If the gove actually cared for our kids they would throw parents in jail for a real lesson not fine them.

If it's £60 per parent per child per day, then that might bring the term time/break time holidays in line (ie it would be £1200 for my family if we had gone last week).

But some people are saying its £60 per parent per child per week which would 'only' be a fine of £240 for a 2 week break for my family.

Which is it?

Marmalade I am no fool and am only too aware of the failings of LEA's and state schools. I also appreciate the value of world travel and that some of the best (if not the best) learning experiences do not happen in a classroom or on a school trip.

IWipeArses I am not sure why you would think that I "let everyone else make my decisions for me" purely because I disagree with your ethos on this particular subject. Still, each to their own.

I really wish this would happen in my area. The woman downstairs is constantly keeping her son off because she "can't be arsed" (her words not mine) or that "he's too tired" because she has let him play in the garden until 10.30 pm (he's 5 btw) or been arguing all night with her bf. A nice £60 fine would sort that shitty attitude out. The school he goes to is literally down our street too.

As I understand it, it is currently £60 per parent, per child, per absence.

I don't suppose that there's a lot to stop the LEAs from charging whatever they like, though. I don't think they would do it here because we fall under Dudley council and Dudley is not, for the most part, an affluent area. It would create all sorts of problems.

I read what you said. And you said 'each to their own' which is a known indicator.