To take dd out of school

[Whatwouldmumdo]

Name changed.
Ok we've had a rubbish Xmas health wise and a number of very stressful events recently. It's taken it's toll on myself dh and dd (11).
We need a break, we really do but funds are right and it's a long time until half term anyway.
There are some great deals if we travel in the next couple of weeks, as in a week away with Travel etc for less than £400. We'd get some sun, some peace and it is just what all three of is need.

Dd is doing very well at school, exceeding all targets set for her. We've taken her out of school (with permission) for a long weekend holiday once before but that was years ago and she's since moved school.

I hear that the new school is quite strict about this.

What exactly can the school do if we take her out without permission?

If we go, I'm not inclined to encourage her to lie and say she was ill so if we did go away we'd be facing their reaction head on.

I know that school is important and a privilege and I'm not taking her missing school lightly. The decision isn't yet made but I do think it would be beneficial to her after such a rough few weeks.

I wouldn't do it. I'd either go for some relaxing weekend breaks or save up for a nice holiday in time outside of school.

And I'm talking as someone that saw their best friend run over and killed when I was 11. I was back at school the following week... Being away from school would have only given me time to dwell on everything.

Holidays don't automatically make problems and stress go away, however if your daughter is unhappy etc then would counselling not be a better way to go?

I'd go .
Tell the school you're going , tell them why ( I think a family bereavement is a reasonable excuse for needing some time to rest and recuperate )
She's 11 ! Plenty of time to be strict about time off when she's at secondary school .

Book for half term week and go with a clear mind. If school fine you, you will be looking at 420 extra. Surely the thought of the planned holiday will get you through? And remember that where ever you go this time of year will be full of judgemental 80 year olds saying loudly children should be in school

The fines vary by la. I know mine fine £60 per week not per session, so maybe check first?

I would do it. If she's taking school seriously generally, it won't do any harm. I wouldn't expect the school to agree, though!

I am supposing you've not put this situation to your DD? If she's sensible generally, and for her age, and you tell her the situation she may be able to help you decide. If she says she can catch up and she'd really feel better for a holiday, one thing-if she'd worry about school work, another!

I would go to be honest. She is in year 6 so not seniors and SAT's are a crock anyway - they are for the schools benefit not the childs.

We lost my young BIL in April last year whilst DS was in year 6 - we took him out of school for a few days and school were more than understanding. Why don't you just call the school, speak to them and tell them the situation. I cannot imagine if you tell them she needs time off due to a bereavement they would fine you, although I don't think it is down to the school anymore but the council.

Anyway, go for it.

See, MN is a wonderful thing - if you go on the education board or whatever the general consensus in the SAT's are a nothing but then post a thread like this and everyone says, oooh no, you can't take her out during the SAT year.

You know what's right for you and your family so don't get too hooked up in what other people say.

I should have added - we had to take our yr 6 DD out of school term before last as we had to travel to my family because of illness & hospital then followed bereavement - she missed nearly 3 wks school & holiday time on top - due to the curcumstances the School were fine about it

Circumstance - sod you autocorrect

OP I don't think you are taking this lightly and there are some ridiculous comments on this thread.

I think what you need to weigh up is would the benefit DD would get from a week in the sun to enable her to recouperate and come back refreshed and less run down outweigh the cost of what she would miss at school. If by struggling on with being run down means it is likely she will get sick again and miss school or not be on form when she is there then I think you are perfectly entitled to take a break.

I would be honest with the school, say DD didn't get the chance to recouperate over christmas break, is still run down and you really feel that a week off would mean she would come back refreshed and in a much better place to work hard for the rest of the term.

Yes the school can still say no, but if your DD has good attendance and you can afford the fine and think it is for the best do you really care?

I don't really know anything about SATS haven't got there yet but they are a way off aren't they and still time for your DD to catch up. Perhaps you could even ask to take some of the work your DD would be doing that week for her to do a little while you are away.

We're going. I'm going in to speak to the head tomorrow. If they fine us £60 then so be it. I'm confident that dd's school career won't be irreparably damaged and I believe that this is a good idea for all three of us.

Thanks all for your advice, even those who ultimately won't agree with us.

It's £60 per parent per day here - so £120 a day.

Much better booking in half term which is only 5 weekends away after all.

Or if you must take time off during term time, then after the SATS in may.

Is it really only £60 though? i thought it was alot more than this? I think the rules are much stricter now.

When are her SATs? I wouldn't go a few weeks before because they will be prepping them and they will make a difference to streaming in secondary school.

If its only £60 then i'll be going on a sun holiday this year thats for sure - DD in year 4. but i always thought it was £60 per child, per parent, per day! Then its most definately not worth it..

To those idiots who say its a way of getting a cheap holiday - for some people, myself included, its a way of getting A holiday as we cannot afford to go on holiday during school holidays. We don't go abroad, just caravan park holidays in the UK. Its the holiday companies that take the piss not families who need a break.

Just because she's exceeding targets at the moment; doesn't mean it doesn't matter if she misses a weeks worth of stuff she hasn't covered yet.

I'd do exactly the same as you, OP! Have a wonderful time and I hope it does you all the power of good can I come too, pleeeeease?!!

The fine is per day not £60 total and the headteacher is no longer allowed to use her discretion about whether or not to issue a fine. The fine is non negotiable as I understand it. I hope you haven't booked anything before finding out exactly what it will cost you.

I wouldn't, I'm of the opinion that if children are having a tough , disrupted time then school is the best thing for them, with familiar routines and all their friends.

It is per day here btw - with that fine you may as well go away at half term.

I've checked and it's a fixed penalty of 'up to £120' which correlates with what previous posters have said ie. £60 per child, per parent. I doubt that my xp as a non-resident parent would be fined so I'm anticipating £60 bit if it's £120 then so be it.

We've made a decision that this is best for us.
The ruling also seems to suggest that head teachers do still have some discretion if they deem the circumstances to be excepti

Posted too soon,
Exceptional. I can't see them considering us exceptional though

I just don't understand this. In my school, there are at least 4 children out on holiday this week alone, none of which has been authorised, but they will not be fined. I asked the secretary specifically (as I read so many of these threads on here) and she shrugged and said "HT won't action it."
How can it be fair that some parents are fined and others not?
And actually, does anyone know, categorically, for a fact, anyone who has been fined?

And they're not exceptional holidays - unless skiing counts. Or the trip to Lapland one of my class went to before Christmas (a few weeks after a week away somewhere else).

The fine is £60 per parent per child per offence. Not per day and the LA can't decide to fine per day just because they feel like it. The offence is 'failing to secure regular attendance' and the level of fine is written within the law.

Lots of posters state on here different interpretations of what the fine is, but I ask again, how many people have ACTUALLY been fined themselves, or know first-hand someone who has?

My dcs are 31 and 29 and we have dgcs in school aged 13,8,7,and 4. We have never taken them out of school, but I think you should go. I've never known anyone whose life was ruined because they didn't do well in SATS for goodness sake and the break and sunshine and seeing her parents happy will lift her and her capacity to study when she gets back.

I'd check with school and see what their view is and the cost of any fine and make your choice then.

I have fined parents (or rather been responsible for handing them to the LA to be fined)

Not may I add parents, whose only 'offence' is a 5 day term time holiday.

clam I don't know anyone. There are quite a few newspaper articles though. I assume that some of the people who have been fined have 'failed to secure regular attendance' and not necessarily taken their children away on holiday.