WWYD? Holidays in term time

[Shoulder2Shoulder]

Hi I haven't posted since beginning of last year but my MN trail would most probably out me so have NC for this!

Firstly im not asking whether it is right or wrong to take my primary aged DC out of school so don't want to get into a much exhausted MN debate.

Starting with a bit of backstory. My fit and healthy DH was struck down with a life threatening illness at the beginning of 14 which very nearly took him from us. He has spent the last year unable to work due to the ongoing problems he suffers. This all had a great impact on our family unit.I have worked incredibly hard to keep the household running and afloat. I have tried my hardest to keep things normal for the DC and we do generally holiday once a year. However due to DH illness we were not able to go away last year. I am extremely tired and we need some time away as a family. I have managed to squirrel away a little money for a holiday during half term.

So to my WWYD question....

the holiday i have booked involves 2 days off before half term and one day after. We have had no dates for our diary this term as of yet so have no idea if any inset days will be attached.I do feel really bad taking them out but they honestly never miss school and are always on time and their attendance record over the years proves this. I just dont know how i go about asking for the time when i know it will be unauthorised. I have been in and asked for the appropriate forms but not given any specifics. I suppose i am worried about the EWO and being fined etc as our school repeatedly states the Education regs in newsletters so i feel quite threatened by it all.

So guys how would you go about it? Its booked and paid for and we are going but i am feeling panicky!

go and speak to your headteacher, she/he will be able to give you an indication of if it will be authorised or not. Do you have any evidence of your dh's condition? or medical treatment, do the school know that there were problems with your dh's health?

If nothing else you need to know how much the bill is going to be for should the lea decide to fine you, but I would firstly speak to the head and submit your application for leave with as much evidence as you have and not just dates required.

I would go and not worry about it! Chances are the monday will be an inset so may only be one day out. I think the fine only kicks in for 5+ days unauthorised absence so for a couple of days I would think you will be ok.

I would just fill in the form, apologise but say they are going to be away on these days. They will likely just return it unauthorised.
If it makes you feel any better, we took dd out for a week last term and know of four different families taking time out this term..

hope your husband is better!

You are going anyway, it will be unauthorised, so why worry.

Just put it on the form, I put on ours that "DD will be absent for family reasons on x, y and z."

What will be will be.

Don't ask. Just go. Sorry to hear about DH. Other posters may come along and act all high and mighty but the reality is that most children who aren't struggling academically/behaviourally aren't damaged by the odd day off. Schools are under pressure from OFSTED about this sort of thing, rather than it being somehow inherently immoral!! Just go and enjoy.

If it's booked and paid for and you're going then there's no more decisions to make. If you claim sickness you won't be believed especially as it is both before and after the holiday. I don't think the head will authorise the absence either as it would have been perfectly possible to book a shorter holiday that didn't require any school to be missed. You will just need to inform the school of the absence and consider the inevitable fined to be part of the cost of the holiday.

I told my dc's class teacher when we went away in October half term as we left two days before the school holiday started. It was booked by our in-laws as a gift for us, hence the dates not being exact.
Class teacher was fine we did get a call from the school on our answer phone on the first day of absence but it was not followed up and they have not mentioned it since.

I don't think our school mind though, if your DC have good attendance and your dh is I'll hopefully yours will be understanding.

Good luck with your holiday, sounds like you all deserve it!

I hope your DH is feeling better OP.

The Monday after this Feb half term is an inset day where we are.

It won't be authorised but I don't think you'll be fined.

Fines are usually only given after the kids miss a certain amount of sessions, so if yours have really good attendance, it shouldn't matter.

It can vary from borough to borough though.

Just do it, explain to The Head but if she doesn't or can't approve it then the worst that can happen is a fine

Obviously depends on the school, but fairly unlikely you'd be fined for a few days. Where I've worked its only been of its a flagrant "I don't give a damn" like booking 3 weeks abroad in May for a child with SEN.

I'm assuming the school are already aware of your husbands illness? Without being as life threatening as your year, we had one similar. The school allowed the time off for the children due to the 'exceptional circumstances' our family had faced. I think it appeared on their report as an 'educational visit'