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Original poster

School Abscense Fine - huge amount

955 replies

PMDD · 16/01/2014 08:08

If I am correct, if you take your child/ren out of school without prior agreement, there is an automatic fine of £60/day/child/parent?

So for us, a family with 3 children, a 2 week holiday in (say) June, would cost us £3600 - or double that if we don't pay within a certain amount of time!

Is it me to think that is totally unreasonable?!

That is a huge amount. The people who take their children out normally can't afford the hike in holiday prices, so how on earth would they afford the fine?

OP posts:
slev · 16/01/2014 08:50

Oh completely agree that home schooling works for some. But for a lot of people it doesn't - and the reasons would be exactly the same reasons that I would quote back at someone about what their children would miss out on if they were taken out of school for a holiday.

winterchunderland · 16/01/2014 08:51

It costs the tax payer £12K for 2 kids to be schooled.
I think it's a waste of tax payers money to be honest to take them out.

Boreoff456 · 16/01/2014 08:52

winter I didn't find dd needed to catch up last October. She just slid back in. No issues. Her teacher gave her some work for the plane and to do while we were there.

But we did only go for a week. Our head personally doesn't have an issue with holidays as long as the overall attendance is ok. So it can't cause that many issues.

winterchunderland · 16/01/2014 08:53

Coco

How can it be to do with milking parents? If you decide to waste tax payers money by taking your kids out of school you should be required to refund the state.

Thatisall · 16/01/2014 08:53

Does anyone know where the money actually goes?

bellybuttonfairy · 16/01/2014 08:54

Hmm. Have been watching this with interest. We are going on holiday in Feb half term. We have had a great deal but we have to drive out to the Alps so that will shave a couple of days either side of our previous week. We also have a couple of days that the accomodation is empty after our week and we have been offered that we can stay for free.....

Its a skiing holiday so children are learning a sport.

They are only 7, 4 (2 year old doesnt count).

Hmmm. Do I take those extra days for free and my children miss nearly a week of school?

Its our only holiday this year and I was going to ask the teacher for copy of worksheets they are doing in class so they can do when we are away.

Albeit a couple of hospital appointments (dd1 had cardiac issue). Attendance is excellent.

Boreoff456 · 16/01/2014 08:54

I Think most people will start counting the fines as part of the holiday cost. You know flights, hotel, fines etc.

winterchunderland · 16/01/2014 08:55

"Boreoff456"

As someone who was taken out of school as a child I can assure you they will have missed stuff. Or are you saying that the other children learned nothing over those 2 weeks?

Tiredemma · 16/01/2014 08:56

Ive just read through my local LEA's guidelines for it and it appears that they they will make the decision based on - number of days UA in previous 12months and that a fine would not be imposed until day 6 of any UA leave.

coco44 · 16/01/2014 08:57

How can it be to do with milking parents? If you decide to waste tax payers money by taking your kids out of school you should be required to refund the state
I think you should have had fewer absences from school if you think that argument follows any kind of logic ;-)

Boreoff456 · 16/01/2014 08:57

I didn't take my kids out for 2 weeks. Which I did point out. Some kids disk, but some kids it doesn't effect so much. Just how it is.

FortyDoorsToNowhere · 16/01/2014 08:59

It is simple just don't take the children out of school = no fines.

But it should be a blanket ban on all families, as much as I respect the military those children will also miss the work and why should fines go on someone job.

Custardo · 16/01/2014 09:00

i think this is another indirect attack on the poor.
i was fortunate in that when i was low paid and the kids were in junior school that we could just about affort to take them camping in france

we went for 1 week and at that time there were no fines - i had to ask permission, by the end of their time at junior school things were getting tougher on the taking them out of school front, so they had a funeral to go to 300 miles away instead - thats the excuse i used - what are they going to ask for a death certificate? i dont think so.

i can tell you that in a week, they didn't miss much and as adults they refer to those holidays often - they are the best memories they have of what was otherwise a very skint childhood

Boreoff456 · 16/01/2014 09:01

Also mum and dad room me out every year. As did a fee of my friends parents. None us felt we missed out. You may have done we did not. We seem to be fine. Out of 4 of us 3 have good jobs or our own businesses, the other is a sahm and we are all generally happy people. I am sure its effect other people negatively though as well. We are all different.

winterchunderland · 16/01/2014 09:02

TBH the argument that they learned a sport is irrelevant. It's the impact it has on the running of the school.

As an adult I feel I missed bits of education having been pulled out of school for odd weeks. It always took a while to get back to speed upon return and my teachers had to spend extra time giving me a few worksheets before or after the time off. I do not feel enriched because I sunbathed and visited some attraction during my time off I feel my parents were wrong.

Thatisall · 16/01/2014 09:03

belly speak to the head. People say that their hands are tied but they can still use their discretion. If they have good attendance normally and you explain and ask for permission, you might be lucky.

Our head told me that the fines aren't really meant to attack people taking the odd holiday throughout the course of the schooling, they are meant to be a deterrent for truancy and a punishment for parents who don't get their children to school. But you have to make a blanket rule and this is it.

Tiredemma · 16/01/2014 09:03

Does anyone know where the money actually goes?

Well my fine (if i get one, as normally attendance is excellent) will go to Bham City Council- who I would imagine need the money desperately given that they are the worst council in the UK with regards to protecting children. Hopefully my fine will go towards hiring competent staff to deal with excessive rates of child protection issues we seem to have in this city. Or it might go towards expense claims for our local councillors - who knows- they are never really transparent are they with regards to our money and the public purse?

tiggytape · 16/01/2014 09:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

winterchunderland · 16/01/2014 09:05

Coco

"If you decide to waste tax payers money by taking your kids out of school you should be required to refund the state"

Why does this not follow any logic? Please explain.

Tiredemma · 16/01/2014 09:06

I had an odd week out of school (so we could go on a caravan to Rhyl of all places, out of season)

I have a good job and a Degree and am half way through a Masters. I don't think those weeks missed impacted upon my education too much. Certainly not to the degree that the Govt are trying to scare us into believing.

Thatisall · 16/01/2014 09:07

tired oh you're so right. I would like to see it go into a proper fund that benefits school age children in some way.

Ubik1 · 16/01/2014 09:07

We don't have this fine business in Scotland. And everything seems to be running ok

Bodicea · 16/01/2014 09:07

While I get the principle. I do feel sorry for people that work in the tourist industry for instance and can't take time off during school holidays. When do they get to have a family holiday.
I work in healthcare and struggle to get time off during school hols a lot of the time - it is managable but still annoying.
Also think it is a bit nanny state. Whatever happened to choosing how you bring up your children?

BigBoPeep · 16/01/2014 09:07

I think it's a shame people prioritise sitting in a classroom over quality family time. For me, family takes priority and the notion that two weeks out of school a year will damage your education tot he detriment of what, your career? Your ability to function as a person is completely laughable.

UriGeller · 16/01/2014 09:08

What if you were taking your kids to Macchu Picchu or on a really culturally enriching visit to European cities?

You could argue that their education whilst out of the school environment would be vastly superior to any they'd gain during 10 or 15 days of being in school.

Then, even a fortnight in Florida is more enriching and enervating to a child than being stuck in the drudge of a classroom being bored to tears, bullied or having the very love for life sucked out of them. Learning happens everywhere.