to be think the head teacher is wrong (TT holiday)

[Thancred]

We've booked a week long holiday for mid-September. I filled in a leave request form at school citing the reasons for the absence. DH can't get any leave until September, they have a lot of term time workers so the year round staff aren't allowed to take more than one or two days off in school holidays unless it's an emergency/sickness. In addition to this we have a DC with ASD who cannot cope with how busy everywhere is in school holidays, even day trips in school holidays are a nightmare if it's somewhere too busy or loud so he ends up miserable or melting down and we have to come home early - a week of that without the option of escaping back home would be horrid for him. So we made the decision that the only way we will get a family holiday is to go in TT when it is quieter and when DH can get the time off work.

We've had a letter back from the head this afternoon and she has rejected it outright. I rang up to discuss it and she has said she does not consider any of it to be a good enough reason. I explained about the ASD issues and her response was "that's life, if xxx can't cope with in the school holidays then don't go".

I've rang the LEA for advice and they've stated that under their guidance it would be classed as exceptional circumstances but they can't overturn the heads decision so we will probably be passed over to them for a fine to be issued.

AIBU to be annoyed at the head? Does anyone know if fines can be appealed once issued?

My dp's always took us out 2nd or 3rd week of September for a cheaper holiday and while I enjoyed the holidays I hated the disruption at school and I haven't any sn.
During O Level years it was a nightmare.
It is the worst time to take DC out imo.

It can be a pain working around school holidays. DH can't always take all his leave in some of the school holidays if he is running a big project, but has always had at least 2 weeks in the summer.

Booptheloop can I ask how you think someone else taking their child on a holiday in term time affects the child/their parent/the teacher/your child/you? Just curious.

No need to reply if you do not wish to.

Theycallmemellowjello Re But the flip side is that all children have a right to an education. No parents have the right to say, actually, I've decided that you are not going to get your education this week. That's not how it works. Parents have an obligation to make sure that children (even children with SN) are able to exercise their right to an education. That means not taking them out of school when it's easier to have a holiday in TT.

Can I ask how much learning you think children do in an average week in an average school? Is that to you the only form of education? Could going to a new place, perhaps abroad or by the sea or to a city where there are museums or art galleries, or to the beach be a form of education for a child from a city/countryside/ different location?

This thread has made me really sad. There are different types of special needs, different issues and different degrees. Everychild is different it can be like chalk and cheese. I don't understand how anyone can read my last post and not have any understanding or empathy.
This society really really genuinely worries me for my son's future.

I agree sazza76 it's sad and petty. And it shows a lack of trust that most parents really do know what is best for their children.

I don't understand some peoples thinking. Doesn't mean I'm right but I just think I know my children. I know that missing one week of school isn't going to be detrimental to their education. I do believe education is important but it's not the be all and end all of everything in life. I know on my deathbed I won't be thinking, thank god I had 100% attendance throughout my education.....I'll be thinking how lucky I have been to have an amazing family and to have spent some quality time together as a family. Come on, if you don't see that then you're missing the bigger picture.

Just go. Go and enjoy yourselves.

I'm on another thread at the moment, again a child with ASD and the OP is trying to decide whether for various reasons he should take part in sports day.

It reads remarkably similar to this one. OP has even been accused of lying again and asked if she is embarrassed about how her son will perform at the sports day and that's why she doesn't want him to do it?

I am disgusted by the constant aggressive, ignorance shown towards children with ASD and their parents. I would be embarrassed to make some of the comments posters do from a position of so little knowledge and experience. I wonder how many other life long conditions are subject to this kind of dismissal, skepticism and aggressive questioning and trying to catch the parent of a disabled child out?

Absolutely disgusting and shameful.

These threads always amaze me. Of course the head is likely to say no. I think he probaby has to say no. Legally has to. But the worst that can happen is you get a fine. Why not just go and pay the fine? Why do you need the head to authorise a holiday he doesn''t have the authority to authorise? Just go and pay. You are obviously comfortable about a week off school or you wouldn't have booked it. The head doesn't have to and can't officially agree with you.