To be confused by school holiday authorisation...

[MerryMarigold]

So, we have done the unthinkable and taken the last 3 days of term off in order to fly long haul to visit dh's family (saving ridiculous amounts of money, and meaning we could go). We do this every 4 to 5 years so the last time we went, my eldest was in nursery. Told my friend who is a teacher in this borough and she said it would be fine as attendance figures have been worked out already plus obv it is the very end of a long summer term.

My children (3 of them) always have attendance of 99-100% every term (lucky they are strong and healthy!). I have 2 children at infant school and one in juniors.

Infant school authorised the absence. Was surprised as thought both schools would probably just 'ignore' rather than officially authorise. Junior school sent me sniffy letter about referral to LEA! I do not understand. Is it ultimately the head's decision? What happened to using discretion? I am not asking for something unreasonable. Why does it have to be so black and white? Nothing authorised or everything authorised?

It's made me really cross tbh. If they are going to refer me for this, I may as well have taken 2 weeks either side of Easter. That would've buggered up their attendance! However, I do genuinely care about my children's education so I wouldn't take them out at a time when they may actually be learning something. They will be learning diddly squat in the last 3 days of school.

The rules have changed recently.

And given that the LEA can fine you depending on the length of holiday, 2 weeks at Easter would be seen as worse.

I am amazed the infant school authorised it tbh. They aren't supposed to unless it is exceptional circumstances.

No, it isn't the head's decision in many cases. If the school as an attendance issue or is in special measures or is being targeted by the LA for support they will have to tell you it will be referred on. They will be told that they need to do so in order to improve their data/ tackle under-achievement/ make it look like they care by the end of July (delete as appropriate).

Things like this explain why teachers celebrated the removal of Gove from education yesterday. There is no discretion in education now, it is entirely black or white.

What sirzy said.

If the LEA get back to you, just say it is exceptional circumstances as you are visiting family and only get to do so every 4-5 years. Things are getting ridiculous. They don't do anything at the end of term, it's just winding down.
Anyway I wouldn't worry as your children's attendance is great otherwise.

Schools have no choice. Like Sirzy said I'm surprised the infant school managed to authorise it. It's horrible as it nearly always leaves the head teacher looking mean for not authorising but their hands are tied.

Well, I was wondering how tied their hands are since the infants authorised and the juniors didn't. The infants needed to see our return flights to check it was not going into the new term, but otherwise they were fine.

unfortunately the basic decision rests with the head teacher and as we all exist in a world entirely ruled by the interpreters of rules rather than sympathetic common sense ,there is no answer to the variations that occur.

Dh is South African and we have been every year taking the girls out of school for 1 week, start of spring term.
This has been authorised every time. Primary school.
Visiting immediate family is considered exceptional circumstances according to the authorisation letter we receive.

Yabu the law is the same for everyone.

But tiggy tape, we are going on holiday, we are going every year, and we are getting it authorised. And that's after sep 2013. We were authorised in jan 2014 and authorised for jan 2015.
If others aren't, then the rules must be discretionary, either by the ht or la.

I think different area LEA's may be acting differently. My friend has permission for her dc's to have 5 days off (today to the end of term next Tuesday) from 2 different schools.

Our LEA has apparently said they won't be issuing fines for 5 days or less if attendance is otherwise ok. Seems that head teachers round here now will authorise up to that 5 days.

I think cost could be a factor in it being exceptional circumstances if the difference really meant you couldn't otherwise have visited relatives. It is the head's decision as to what is exceptional. I guess be grateful 2 of the children have been authorised and argue your case as strongly as you can if the LEA see fit to fine you for the third child.

Is the summer term slightly longer this year?

But most Heads would not authorise it to visit relatives abroad every single year at a cheaper time than holiday time. They could not justify to the LA that the reason is exceptional if it starts being every single year after the rule change.

This is not every single year. This is once at Infants (nursery) and once at Juniors. I wrote in my letter that we go every 4-5 years. (Possibly longer if dh's parents die in the meantime which is entirely possible).

I assume the whole point of the rule is to stop children missing out on learning. So why it is it enforced when learning is not occurring? (Let's face it). It makes a mockery of the whole point of the rule. Persistent offenders, yes. I think it's good to have rules to help achieve the objective of your rule. But rules for rules sake?

But most Heads would not authorise it to visit relatives abroad every single year at a cheaper time than holiday time.

Again. This is the kind of black and white attitude which makes me so mad. I am not asking for 2 weeks extra at Easter when it would be about half the price of now. I am asking for 3 days which still saves about £1,000.

So why it is it enforced when learning is not occurring? (Let's face it)

It's usually only people who want to go on holiday who claim there is no learning in the last few weeks of term, IME.

*in term time

MerryMarigold can see your point, as they would not miss much at the end of term.
DS is a Governor and they discussed their interpretation of the rules at a Governors' meeting. It isn't just up to the Head and his/her interpretation of the rules, although the Head has to make the decision in accordance with what the school has decided.

It's usually only people who want to go on holiday who claim there is no learning in the last few weeks of term, IME

Not it's not.

YABU. The law applies to everyone. It doesn't matter if you agree or not, thems the rules.

Without being cynical, I suspect if you are challenged by the LEA, and you say the trip is to visit "relatives in Africa" (rather than holiday) they will let it go.