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Original poster

Can I be fined - has anyone actually been fined?

221 replies

Weathergames · 27/05/2014 20:51

Hi, I want to take my 3 kids away in July - meaning they would miss the last 3 days of term when all they do is watch films DS1 will have left by then anyway.

Can the school actually fine me? Has anyone been fined for taking their kids out for a few days (kids have 100% attendance).

I work for the LA (not the same as where kids are at school) in attendance and I know the LA I work for would not spend money prosecuting me for 3 days absence.

OP posts:
Original poster
Weathergames · 27/05/2014 21:12

Just a thought really but if you can't afford to go on holiday then perhaps you shouldn't be going on holiday.

Seriously Shock

I am not going to rob a bank to take them they will miss a few days from school!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Weathergames · 27/05/2014 21:13

I know they won't give permission as I asked for 1 day last year (we went abroad to visit my sister for her 40th) and they said no.

OP posts:
MaryWestmacott · 27/05/2014 21:13

You could try asking the school. Of course this will give them the heads up you are planning to go away, so if they say they would fine you, then you call to say D&V, it's pretty obvious you're lying.

But worth asking if you aren't prepared to lie so you know.

Different LAs do different fines, not all do £60 per child per day per parent, see what they say. If the fine would be more than you'd save, then it's not really worth it.

meditrina · 27/05/2014 21:13

The Guardian reported that last school year, over 50,000 fines were issued. They are really in use, regardless of whether MNers supply personal experiences.

cantbelievethisishppening · 27/05/2014 21:13

weather. Er, you asked the question. Why are you getting so defensive? If you want to risk it then go for it. You sound like you are trying to justify it to yourself. I know of two parents who have been fined. I don't know them personally but in my line of work.

Vinomcstephens · 27/05/2014 21:14

No, you're not going to murder anyone but what you are doing instead is deciding that rules you don't like don't apply to your kids and so you're going to ignore them.

Where does it end though OP? What other rules in life do your children get to ignore as they just can't possibly apply to them? I actually don't agree with how impossible it is to get authorisation to take children out of school, I think some perfectly sensible parenting decisions have been taken away because a minority manage to spoil things for everyone but get this - I don't then get to say fuck it, I don't have to follow the rules.

I hope you find the approval and justification you're evidently seeking on here - but you won't be getting it from me.

Original poster
Weathergames · 27/05/2014 21:15

This would be the Mon, Tues, Weds.

DS1 has already had his leavers assembly.

OP posts:
Lilaclily · 27/05/2014 21:15

games, films and then special prize-giving and leavers etc assemblies

Exactly , the kids love it, better to leave them there

MaryWestmacott · 27/05/2014 21:17

oh and I know someone who's just asked, she was told her total fine would be £240 (not sure how long it was for) but she'd not booked the holiday yet. It's not down to the school to decide though, it's the LA. The school should be able to work out what the fine would be so it's an informed decision.

adoptmama · 27/05/2014 21:17

as a teacher I doubt I will ever find anything I will agree with Gove on about anything...

I do however get irritated by parents who seek to justify their own decisions to not send their children to school when they are supposed to, by making sweeping generalisations about schools basically being crap.

We strive to work till the last day and to keep the children motivated and working too. It is increasingly difficult to do that when half the class have buggered off to Benidorm or Alton Towers. It is particularly disruptive to Year 10/12 who should be continuing with their exam syllabus. Generally we end up having to repeat the last 2 weeks worth of lessons in September because of the level of absence from 'sick' classmates.

Original poster
Weathergames · 27/05/2014 21:18

Not seeking approval just wanted to know if anyone had actually been fined - as stated quite clearly into op :)

Couldn't give a shit what people think if decisions I take for my own children.

OP posts:
cantbelievethisishppening · 27/05/2014 21:18

Then go FFS Hmm
what do you want....universal agreement that you should take them out?

Lilaclily · 27/05/2014 21:19

there is nothing stopping you phoning up saying your kids have d&v

That's terrible advice
Teach the kids to lie when they get back
My friend did that 'oh just say you had d&v for the week'
Shock great parenting that

johnworf · 27/05/2014 21:20

We have been fined and it was for 5 days absence. My youngest's school was off and it was an oversight on our part that the older one's secondary school wasn't.

Both have 100% attendance but it counts for nothing.

Btw, I was fined as well as my DH and I'm not even DSS's biological mother.

Yes, it does happen but if you take your children out during term time then you know the score!

Joules68 · 27/05/2014 21:22

Our schools start the new school year now, when we go back after this half term...... No 'films' in school for our lot!

Op. What if everyone had the same 'it's only 3 days' attitude?

Original poster
Weathergames · 27/05/2014 21:22

johnworf

Thanks - how much were you fined?

OP posts:
cantbelievethisishppening · 27/05/2014 21:23

Not seeking approval just wanted to know if anyone had actually been fined - as stated quite clearly into op

You also asked 'Can the school actually fine me'

Original poster
Weathergames · 27/05/2014 21:25

I apologise for my shoddy phrasing.

I know they can I didn't know if they can do it without the LA backing.

OP posts:
Lesleythegiraffe · 27/05/2014 21:29

I wish the fines system existed in Scotland.

We will have loads off next Tuesday as they are going to One Direction in Glasgow and "need" the whole day off to travel there.

Silly me, I only go to concerts that are on a Saturday night. Maybe next time I'll go midweek and see the reaction when they don't have a teacher

cantbelievethisishppening · 27/05/2014 21:30

The only way you will know for sure is if you speak to the school directly which will obviously flag up the fact you are thinking about it. Or you could speak to other parents. Have you looked at the LA website's FAQ? Or you could contact the LA direct.

adoptmama · 27/05/2014 21:30

The number of fines being imposed is increasing. Nearly 5,500 thousand fines were imposed by just 34 local authorities (out of 156 asked, responding to a BBC info request) in the autumn term of 2013. Liverpool has one of the highest rates of imposing fines - and has also had its best attendance figures as a consequence.

PiperRose · 27/05/2014 21:30

Yes you can be fined. Per parent per absence (not day). Usually around £50 per child, per parent so £300 if you have a dp, £150 if not.

It's not the school that does the fining, it's the LA.

MaryWestmacott · 27/05/2014 21:33

OP - the school doesn't fine you! The LEA does. If your local LEA decides to issue fines, there's nothing the school can do about it (although the schools are the ones who get it in the neck from grumpy parents who somehow thought the rules wouldn't apply to them). It's out of the school's control.

Unless you state which LEA your DC's schools are in, there's nothing anyone here can tell you that's useful, it varies from council to council if they fine and by how much. Have a look on their website, it might be listed, or you can ask the school.

Original poster
Weathergames · 27/05/2014 21:34

In that case I think they will be unlikely to fine me given that I have a good track record.

OP posts:
PiperRose · 27/05/2014 21:37

Sorry just noticed your eldest would have left by then. Legally a child does not leave school, until the end of the academic year (somewhere around July 15th normally) after their 16th birthday. Some schools require attendance until then, some don't. If not then it'll be £100/£200.

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