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!!

The fine isn't for ANY term term holiday, surely it's for unauthorised absence? So if it's authorised, it's fine. Circumstances where parents work somewhere where holidays have to be taken at set times resulting in term time holiday should mean the absence is authorised, meaning no fine.

owllady....that sort of scenario has crossed my mind too

SHOULD being the operative word Filly.

I don't actually ever go on holiday with my children (or without them!) but I still disagree with it.

I actually wonder when Gove is going to make home education illegal. The way he's going I'm surprised he hasn't done it already.

Of course holidays are educational! The lack of imagination and understanding of how human beings learn astounds me.

Even if it's not an overtly 'educational' holiday, just being in a different environment and experiencing new things increases learning potential and creativity.

Wouldn't it be lovely if the government introduced some legislation which meant travel companies couldn't right royally rip the piss out of families during the school holidays?

We could then afford to take holidays during the holidays and there would be no need for fines. Someone should tell them.

My DS's teacher did have two days off - to go to an overseas wedding - his first term at secondary school, I was not impressed. Agree with choccy - why is it OK for teachers to have 'teacher training days' , days off for snow/strikes; dossing around days at the end of term wathing DVDs etc etc but not for children to have a holiday?

I do not agree that holidays are 'educational' in any sense of the word, nor do I believe that anyone is 'entitled' to a holiday, I just hate the double standards that seem to exist. We all know families that just ring in sick when they are going to Glastonbury - so why be penalised for being honest?

HE saves the gov money so I think you're safe!

Step I agree with you but I think it's misleading/ a bit dangerous to assume its always about going on cheaper holidays.
It's about understanding that life happens, a million different permutations and ther should be some freedom for parents to make the right choices within reasonable limits.

You know, up until now I was not feeling as strongly as others about the way this government had been 'clamping down' but it's starting to feel more and more like a country which is being ruled with an iron fist

The whole thing is a massive intrusion into family life and I hope sooner or later someone will take them to the European court of human rights over it.

And all those who hate Gove, and I loath the man, remember he is only in forcing A Labour Nanny State Law
ie. which ever bunch of them we vote for we're fucked

every day out with my DC is educatinal.

today we have been out on a nature walk and been to the park. With my phone in my hand once the kids asked a question i googled it and we found out the answers. Even in the park I asked why does DD stay up and you (to DS) stay down.

The value of holidays isn't measured by how educational or cultural it is. It's about re-connecting as a family. Sharing time, being together, playing games, relaxing, eating together 3 times a day, exploring together. The whole experience, sharing it, making memories.

As adults, will our children remember that extra week they spent in school?

It affected me when I was teaching the children whose parents thought it was their right to have two weeks holiday in school time marmalade.

Marmalade's point is a good one. This is a sanction that won't even bother wealthier parents. They can just pay up and continue to disregard the rules that the less well off have to follow.

Mrs Hercule it should be every childs right to a holiday yes or are holidays not necessary for poor children.

Will be enforced in all state schools from September I think (will read thread now).

I'm surprised someone who is allegedly friendly with a deputy head is so misinformed.

Of course holidays are educational. How can they not be?
Even just going on a plane (if you're going abroad) is educational. A child learns what happens at an airport and what its like in a plane that they've always seen as a tiny thing from the ground.

I'm not one to go off on term time holidays but why shouldn't I take the kids out for a week if I wanted to? I think removing the discretion from the HT has ensured that its now a legislation for making money.

How many people are happy to pay a £120 to save £1000 or more?

"It affected me when I was teaching the children whose parents thought it was their right to have two weeks holiday in school time marmalade."

Well perhaps you should be able to manage this since a week off for illness is quite common? You must have plans for catching pupils up, surely?

No I am not bitter.
Yes I can read.
I used to teach - many years ago now, but still remember the disruption that children going on holiday can cause.
But if parents want to do that, fine. Just don't whinge when you get fined.

I dont think there's any point in trying to get the travel companies to have the prices the same all year round because then wont they just hike up all the prices?

"Mrs Hercule it should be every childs right to a holiday yes or are holidays not necessary for poor children."

That is the point I am making. 'Poor' children in the area I teach don't go on holiday at all, in most cases. It isn't a right to go on holiday, and in my 14 years as a teacher generally it is the wealthier families taking children out in term time for holidays.

Personally I think perhaps we should be focusing on every child's right to clean water, a safe home and living in a loving enironment rather than it costing four grand less to go to euro Disney in term time.

Having spent some time with deprived teenagers - the sort who had a criminal record before their 18th birthday, no qualification, etc - the one thing many of them had in common was that they had often travelled no more than a 30-mile radius from their home town.

Holidays broaden horizons. It's one of the reasons why parental income remains one of the biggest influences over the outcomes for children. Wealth brings opportunities and the desire to take them because they're tangible. To a child on a sink estate even a weekend in Cornwall is as real a possibility to them as holidaying with Rihanna in the Bahamas.

What about the rights of children of school staff to have an affordable holiday? I'd love to take my kids to Disney land or skiing - can't afford it in the school hols. DP and I can't take time off in term time. Won't anyone think of my children?!