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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to be angry about attendance charge from school

562 replies

HidingInTheBathroom · 07/02/2014 15:36

I am very upset at the minute. Received my fine today for taking my children out of school four days before they break up for Christmas.

Me and my husband have received a Â£60 fine for each child for each parent.

We are being charged more for being a couple. Which I think is wrong. The last week of school they only watch films and went to a pantomime. Oh and had a school disco. The holiday was far more educational than watching films and family time is hard to come by with work.

When I have requested a meeting with the head teacher I have just got a mouthful of abusive from the receptionist.

OP posts:

Braganza · 07/02/2014 16:22

So you'll be happy when you get the other family fined too then OP

JennyOnAPlate · 07/02/2014 16:23

Fines are issued by the LA, not the school, so it's very unlikely that the other family didn't get fined because they are on the PTA.

It's pointless seeing the head...he/she can't do anything about your fine.

TheGruffalo2 · 07/02/2014 16:23

So are you claiming it is because they are PTA or because the father made a large personal donation to the school?

theborg · 07/02/2014 16:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

YouStayClassySanDiego · 07/02/2014 16:24

Are you related to the arse kissers or was it a typo, your post at 16.04.

FitzgeraldProtagonist · 07/02/2014 16:24

OR, and I can see where the answer is coming, would DP get find even though they aren't his children because we live together (seems par for course in every other state financial imposition)

bebanjo · 07/02/2014 16:24

If you have a child say in a private nursery and you have a contract for 30 hrs a week you have to pay even if your child is on holiday. State school fees are payed for by the tax payer, some of whom have children on waiting lists for schools.
Enrolling a child into a school is a legal arrangement which should be upheld by both sides, if not individuals can be penalised.

Of course there is more educational merit in many out of school activities than end of term stuff, but as a parent if you say you want the child educated by the school your telling them to do it there way.
Everyone has the legal right to home ed if the school does not meet the requirements of the parents. But many like the free child care and so put up with the other bits.

If you don't like the system get out or change the system, the system will not change on its own.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 07/02/2014 16:24

I hate these new draconian rules, and I've worked as a teacher as well as being a mother.
I just feel that home and school are a partnership and we should trust and respect parents more than this.
Also holidays are getting more and more expensive and these rules don't help with that.
The system was much better before when headteachers had the discretion to "allow" 2 weeks off where it was to the benefit of the child and the whole family, mainly to enable the family to have an affordable annual holiday, or an extended trip to visit family abroad.

It's ridiculous and will cause much bad feeling and ill will

cardibach · 07/02/2014 16:24

All the reasons why strikes, election closures etc are different have been discussed endlessly. Teacher training days come out of the holidays (even if they are within term, IYSWIM) so no, education is not missed then.

Floggingmolly are you by any chance named after a certain Irish band? I saw them last night

Original poster

HidingInTheBathroom · 07/02/2014 16:25

Yes I'm related

OP posts:

theborg · 07/02/2014 16:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

YouStayClassySanDiego · 07/02/2014 16:26

You still took your kids out, it doesn't matter about the other family, regardless of what their circumstances were.

This was your decision, that's all that matters.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 07/02/2014 16:26

Personally I think the rules are madness, I think it should be down to the parents to decide whether their child will be ok having some time off school.....but........that is the law and no matter what you think about it, if you break the law you have to pay the price.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 07/02/2014 16:27

BTW The opposition parties should get on to this and support bringing back the old system as I think that is not only far more reasonable but also a potential vote winner for them.

Floggingmolly · 07/02/2014 16:28

Yes, cardibach! Where did you see them??

eggsandwich · 07/02/2014 16:28

Next time you want to take them out of school in term time just stick something really inappropriate in their lunch box that should get them excluded from school for a few days.

Original poster

HidingInTheBathroom · 07/02/2014 16:30

Fitzgerald I would like to know this too as technically DH is not farther to one DS unfortunately oldest DS farther is no longer around.

OP posts:

ilovesooty · 07/02/2014 16:30

Here we go. Someone else who can't comprehend the concept of INSET days. They were taken out of teachers' holidays OP. Your children do not miss any education through them and attend for the same number of days they always did. I'm amazed that there is still such ignorance about when this has been repeatedly explained.

theborg · 07/02/2014 16:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

higgle · 07/02/2014 16:32

Next time just lie, say they are ill and have a bug. It isn't relevant for rich parents because they are either at fee paying schools where all the kids have time off for skiing or the fine is peanuts to them.

DontmindifIdo · 07/02/2014 16:33

I assume the other family will have been fined too. They might just not be complaining about it, how do you know the haven't been? Unless it was taking their DCs out for a family wedding or something like that, then there's little the head could do about stopping them being fined, no matter how much the parents donated to the school (or it could be, if they are that wealthy, they don't mind about the fine).

If anything, the difference between term and non-term time holiday costs are going to get bigger as these fines hit, each day will have to be £121 per child cheaper at least to make it worth it...

higgle · 07/02/2014 16:34

Alternately - you know those school trips that you are told payment is voluntary for, the ones they are not really allowed to charge for. Just say you won't pay and re-coup the money that way.

TheGruffalo2 · 07/02/2014 16:34

"The conversation is recorded and I will putting in a formal complaint. " What do you mean recorded OP?

Fairenuff · 07/02/2014 16:35

I can tell you that the HT will not discuss another family's business with you. Because, actually, it is one of your business. They will tell you to pay the fine or risk prosecution. Your choice.

If you refuse to pay and insist on harping on about another family, they will tell you to tell it to the judge.

Btw, lots of posters have asked if you were aware that you would be fined when you took them on holiday and, as far as I can see, you haven't answered this.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 07/02/2014 16:37

Oh, that's an idea higgle

I did say these rules will cause bad feeling

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