To ask if you got fined or not

[BanginChoons]

For taking your children on holiday in term time?

I'm not asking if you should or not, just if you got fined. And if you did, how long did you take them for? Did you ask for permission first? And how long did it take for the fine to come through? Thanks.

No.

We've taken them out twice for a week (different school years) and a couple of odd days for long weekends/theme parks.

Always been authorised and never been fined.

We took dd out of reception for a week and didn't get fined, she did have 100% attendance.

I haven't heard of anyone being fined at our school, it's an academy and I don't know if that makes any difference.

Anon - personally I think faith schools should be banned, in terms of them being state funded. Absolutely no need for them. Encourages divisiveness & bigotry in my experience.

Plus as you say many of them devote too much of what should be teaching time on religious observance. My brother withdrew his eldest from the catholic school he was placed in by LA - not even one of my brothers choices on the form (I'm not entirely sure how it works in England). We were raised Catholic but none of us still practicing. Brothers comment "they were spending more time on learning prayers than doing maths!"

If there's ANYTHING ofsted should be clamping down on its that!

Graphista you clearly have no idea what it's like to work in a school. Yes it's called "guidance" but try to explain to an Ofsted Inspector why your school is ignoring the DfE Guidance. At our last inspection our Head Teacher had to explain her definition of exceptional circumstances. We failed.

I already explained and apologised for my misunderstanding about the 5 days, so really there was no need to highlight it again. But if you didn't understand my explanation I can repeat it in words of less than two syllables to make it easier for you.

And believe me I spend all day offering support. I run parenting classes, find financial assistance and support families through the worst of times. What exact support do you suggest a family who want to go on holiday needs?

No I'm not a teacher. I am perfectly capable of understanding long words thanks my degree in English will attest to that.

What I QUERIED is your post that was designed to make it seem as if these decisions were completely out of both your and the headteachers hands. Which it clearly isn't. Yes the heads have to back up their decisions, still their decisions though.

As for what support a family going on holiday needs personally I'd think it would depend on why they're going on holiday. Yes most do so purely for pleasure but for some I'm sure it's also for some much needed time out as a family following trauma or a period of stress, as has been mentioned on the thread some parents can't get leave during the school holidays, it might be to co-ordinate with family they're visiting overseas... I can see how they might need a more supportive approach to persuade them not to take too much time out of school.

To be honest, I think the education system in this country is terrible- I've worked in schools and seen the stress a 7 year old is under- and instead of penalising the parent for giving the child a weeks break they should be focusing on how to improve their in-school education. If it was genuinely detrimental to the child's education they would send work with them.

OP - if you are a key worker and can provide evidence that your annual leave was declined in school holidays then they may we'll approve it. Im a nurse and had one holiday approved as I have evidence that I was declined annual leave during holiday time.

Graphista, yes, I think actual faith has no place in schools. Ok, learn about RE if you have to (personally I actually think that subject is a waste of time) but not the extent of actually excluding important subjects. I went to a faith school and it was nothing to the extent the DCs one is. I wish I had known a lot earlier but as eldest says 'can't remember' for what she did most of the time, I've never actually been aware. Talking to a parent today, there are other bits they do and it actually adds up to a full school day a week (including lunch and break times). It's ridiculous.