AIBU to be angry about attendance charge from school

[HidingInTheBathroom]

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 £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.

TamerB bet there'll be loads of with dodgy tummies. No creativity is there?

Does this law apply to private schools?

With respect, this film watching, end of term stuff has been going on for decades. And a surprisingly few number of pupils are absent in the lead up to christmas.

Of course it has. Wall have to be stripped, classrooms changed, paint pots washed etc. Parents fail to look at it in a childlike way. I loved it as a child, out of routine, time to be really sociable and have fun-you need it after a long term and I would hate to have missed it.

"Yes you do need a meeting with the Head to find out why the other family are not getting fined" - Sorry, no! None of OP's business. If I had an authorised absence because of a valid reason e.g. terminal illness of family member, bereavement, parent finally in remission or finished chemo, I would be furious if the head explained why I had been authorised and hence not fined. The head will respect the other family's right to confidentiality and won't have anything to say.

Owl, PiperRose I figured that school wasn't compulsory till 5, DS is not legally obliged to go till he is 6. However, beyond that I will continue to speak to teachers and take him out of school for long haul trips.

When I was 9, my mum took me out of school for a month with the headmaster's blessing, as we took a 2 month trip across the us by greyhound bus. I can still remember that trip clearly and I am 43 now. the whole of the rest of primary school is a hazy fog.

Fines were introduced over a decade ago (Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003) and may have been levied (and even parents imprisoned for not paying).

The rules haven't changed, but LEAs do seem more ready to fine than they did before.

I am quite certain, with the number of people on MN who say they will lie, that attendance officers will not just accept a note saying sick for a week! They will smell more than a few rats!

How did FFS get my attention? Because I'm replying to a thread I'm active on? I'm not new to MN. The passive aggressive bollocks washes right over me.

Having worked in schools Bump I can't agree with you there.
I think the end of term wind down is due to a combination of factors including .....
a party atmosphere especially before Christmas, excited children, tired staff, rehearsals for plays, less observation and record keeping as reports already written, trying to give all children some nice end of term treats, and taking the opportunity to build a good feeling of class community.

It's nothing to do with whether or not a couple of extra children might be away (some may genuinely be off sick anyway as bugs do spread more in confined indoor winter spaces)

Does this law apply to private schools?

No

But the result is the same-they are paying for something they are not getting-and far more than the average fine!

all these laws are to keep parents at work and then being fleeced by holiday companies (centre parks at half term anyone?) why else do you think gove wants 10 hour school days?

The "system" does not give a shit about families or being an individual

Wow bump, really, dvds and toy days are as a result of 'half the class not being there' really... ...

Exactly TamerB. Still 10/10 to them for trying! .

Misspixietrix -

I meant for someone who Deliberately took their DCs out of School for a bloody holiday. You know. What this thread is all about.

So go on then. Explain how you can fine holidays separately from other unauthorised absences within the law.

I see the law does not. In that case it is an unjust law. If this was really about the rights of children to be educated, which is a legal obligation, then it would apply to all schools, as do the child protection laws. This has nothing to do with education, and everything to do with government's desire to regulate the citizen.

Yes, I'm a teacher, and no I do not do catch up for those who take time out of school for holidays.

Fortunately the knobheads currently in charge go Australia have not cottoned on to this aspect of meddling, though I expect it won't be long before they do.

Does this law apply to private schools

Well yes, because it's a law. However they don't generally fine parents because they would need a Local Authority EWO to do so and generally they don't have them because they're not part of the LA.

Of, not go.

A bit slow. I'd love to see this challenged in the courts.

Also Piper I'm guessing those that have to pay for their Child's Education are less inclined to keep them off! :)

Friend of mine used to take her child out for 10 days every term. She got a serious shock when she was contacted by the truancy officer. She genuinely believed she had the right. It's people like her who have meant that rules have had the be tightened and tightened.

Private schools just ask you to leave if attendance is unacceptable to them.
The state only sets the rules for state schools.

Those who go private have much longer holidays. Funny how they don't need to be taught as much as the thick unwashed in the state system.

At the school I teach in we are not allowed to wind down and have to teach proper lessons right up until the last day. And we do. We are a state comprehensive but I admit we may not be typical.

The thing that always used to wind me up were parents who would take a holiday during term time but then expect us to set work for their child to do and mark it. Always seemed to me that if you took kids out of class, then you accepted they missed the curriculum.

I've even met parents who assumed external exams could be moved to suit their holiday plans.

Unfortunately, the law is bashing everyone because of a few, as some one else said, began to see the ten days off as some sort of right. But it is the law.