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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Holiday fines?

292 replies

frozen1234 · 19/10/2014 23:56

Hi.

Im after some advice.

We have been on holiday and took our son in september. We paid the fine.

We have another holiday in march and wondered what the process is? Would we get another fine or do they take you to court for the second time you do it. Out of curiosity can you keep having hols each year and paying the fine? Or will they eventually take you to court?

Thanks for any answers on the above questions..

OP posts:
Sirzy · 20/10/2014 15:56

Mummy please read my previous post with regards to the minority who really can't take time off in holidays before biting my head off Wink

mummymeister · 20/10/2014 16:01

Sirzy - its like all things. if something doesn't affect you directly it all seems really simple and straightforward. before I became self employed in this current job, that would have been my view. I guess its about empowerment really. giving parents back the power to decide and giving heads back the power to agree leave. Yes, Worra some school heads do take the view that your DC's schools does but not all of them. this is another problem. too much discretion across counties, areas and schools. still the pencil is mightier than the sword and with elections coming up soon it will be interesting to see which party catches on to this as a potential vote winner.

WorraLiberty · 20/10/2014 16:05

Jesus, if people start voting for who runs the country on the basis they want a cheap holiday, we're all doomed.

Have you actually shown any proof to the head teacher that for whatever reason, you can never ever take a holiday that isn't term time?

Sirzy · 20/10/2014 16:05

Mummy again please read my previous post. I have already said in believe that for the minority who genuinely can't take holidays in the holidays they should be allowed 5 days authorised absense. But for the majority of people they can take holidays then they simply choose not to

Sirzy · 20/10/2014 16:06

And there is much less of a case of some areas allowing and some not since the new rules. The tightening up has meant that there is much less variation therefore fairer all around.

tiggytape · 20/10/2014 16:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ClockWatchingLady · 20/10/2014 16:11

Sure, sirzy, you can choose not to send your kid to school at all. But can you opt put of paying the taxes that fund schools? I know that I can afford neither to home educate nor go private. I (and most others) pay for state schools via tax.

RufusTheReindeer · 20/10/2014 16:13

Being straightforward and honest here

I WANT to take my children on holiday in October, half term and a further week

I CAN GO in August (but it's too hot), Easter (but I can't due to ds1 exams)

I have every sympathy with people who cannot do holidays in term time and they should be in under exceptional circumstances

People like me should be fined a lot, and further action should be taken if it becomes a regular occurrence

mummymeister · 20/10/2014 16:13

tiggytape are you expecting the exam results to show a big improvement as a result of the improved attendance then? apparently this is the reason why it was introduced. have the piss taking parents who do what you said with the GCSE exams now stopped doing this because of the fines?

I am just not convinced and have seen no evidence from any government or other study that the feckless one day off a week, holiday before GCSE parents have stopped. the stats are just that.. statistics.

I want the government to crack down really hard on the parents that deny their kids a proper education by letting them stay up gaming all night then not getting them into school on time every day. that's where I want the time and effort spent, giving these kids a proper opportunity. this law doesn't do this does it. it is a smokescreen.

Worraliberty - people vote according to what is the biggest issue in their life at the time, always have always will.

Sirzy · 20/10/2014 16:16

Those people are being dealt with though that is a whole other issue. Doesn't change the fact that by saying to your child "I have decided you don't need to go to school this week" that is still sending the same type of school isn't important/is only important when it suits us as the "I can't be arsed taking you to school today" type parents. No reason not to tackle both of the problems.

lecherrs · 20/10/2014 16:22

Tiggytape - you have read the actual original research and it's stats haven't you...?

Because the actual research shows that if a child has time off school specifically for a holiday that lasts less than two weeks, then there are no negative effects on GCSE results at all. In fact, a small holiday even increases student performance.

I've linked to the original research many times (probably under old user names). But it always surprises me how many people quote the research without actually realising the original research actually undermines their arguments!

Happy to link again if you want me to - but it'll have to be later as I'm on my phone now and the research is saved to my computer.

tiggytape · 20/10/2014 16:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lecherrs · 20/10/2014 16:28

Sorry, Tiggytape I don't know why I put your name at the top there.

Someone was misquoting the research, but now looking back, I don't think it was you!

That's the problem with trying to use Mumsnet on the app!

tiggytape · 20/10/2014 16:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

starlight1234 · 20/10/2014 16:35

Same as all these threads pointless. AS there are those who think it is a terrible thing to do, those who don't.

25 children would never take there children out as 25 parents don't agree.

I have don caravan 3 days for a couple of years as it was all I could afford. I really don't care if the parents on MN don't think I should not have a holiday because I couldn't afford anything else. but therefore equally I would never post on here asking what anyone else thinks

LumionaMoonsplash · 20/10/2014 16:35

I do love a good term time holiday thread. Thanks Mummymeister for giving voice to us who cannot go away during school holidays. We are hoping to get a letter from DHs HR dept to outline the shitty holiday allocation he's given most years. Last year was 3 weeks in June and this year it was the 2 weeks before school broke up in July. We've so far stuck to the school rules and not been away for 2 yrs but my god its so miserable. I think he has June again next year. I'm not sure we are exceptional circs but I really hate feeling vilified for even thinking about going on holiday with my family.

mummymeister · 20/10/2014 17:01

LumionaMoonsplash - if his holidays are allocated and this is in a letter then I would apply for exceptional circumstances if I were you. there is a Police chief somewhere (North but cant remember exactly where) who has written to all the head teachers, LEA's in his area explaining that his officers cant be off over the summer because they have to be sent to London for cover, go to summits etc. Tiggytape. whats the difference now. heads have to decide authorised or unauthorised so they are still being required to pick and choose. whilst I accept it may be slightly easier it still isn't an absolute yes or absolute no.

tiggytape · 20/10/2014 17:29

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 20/10/2014 19:02

Doesn't change the fact that by saying to your child "I have decided you don't need to go to school this week" that is still sending the same type of school isn't important/is only important when it suits us as the "I can't be arsed taking you to school today" type parents. No reason not to tackle both of the problems.

We're quite honest with our dc that when we take them out for a weeks skiing holiday it isn't because school isn't important, but that we as their parents have made the decision that for that one week of the year, a family holiday comes first. And it's not an easy choice but that's the decision that we have made for now while they are both in primary school. They are bith healthy kids, neither of them missed any other time off school last year and they are both achieving well. That helps us in our decision making. The secondary school that they will attend offers a ski trip - interestingly it's in term time so once they're at that school they will go on that trip (and still miss a week of lessons, but that will be authorised Confused ).

Our LA have just introduced fines for unauthorised base pence and advised that there are only very specific extenuating circumstances when leave for holidays will be authorised. This years trip was booked well before there was any public consultation about this, but it looks as if we will still be likely to get fined. To be honest, and this will probably really annoy many of you, we are planning on taking the same one week off a year for the remainder of our dc's time at primary and pay the fines (£60 per child). The chalet that we are going to this year is three times the price in half term week, and the flights more than double.

BettyMoody · 20/10/2014 19:05

I asked a legal expert today. She said second time would go to court.

tiggytape · 20/10/2014 19:13

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Muchtoomuchtodo · 20/10/2014 19:23

No Tiggytape. The fine in our area is going to be £60 per child. In total.

And it is only for a year or two. Then they'll get to miss lessons to go skiing with school all completely above board!!

BettyMoody · 20/10/2014 19:24

that would actually be against sentencing guidelines, so I will be very interested how - I wonder if each council can set its own?

WorraLiberty · 20/10/2014 19:25

I didn't think they did £60 per child in any area.

I've only ever heard of per parent per child.

WorraLiberty · 20/10/2014 19:26

I asked a legal expert today. She said second time would go to court

Not necessarily. I know someone personally who has been fined on 3 separate occasions.

The only time court was mentioned, it was in the context of non payment.