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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

... school not authorising absence- WWYD?

140 replies

Llanali · 03/12/2018 16:44

Just had a letter to say the school will not authorise absence for DD (reception class) for the week before half term in February. This is after the school office advised we would get permission as she’s only in reception.

We tried to go away last year before she started school, to see DD grandparent in Aus but I had a second trimester miscarriage so we had to cancel the trip as I wasn’t allowed to fly following haemorrhage and surgery. This grandparent is the only living one she has.

We can’t go over Christmas as my husband cannot get leave. We can’t go over Easter as he can’t get leave and I can’t have holidays over the summer.

Any ideas? What would you do here? I’m really disappointed they wouldn’t grant us 5 days.

School is threatening prosecution if we take her anyway.

OP posts:
helpmum2003 · 03/12/2018 17:01

OP

I would go - regardless of threat I think they're unlikely to prosecute.

Are school aware of your miscarriages (and I'm very sorry you've been through that). If you can face telling them I would - family needs are very important also.

Good luck!

theonlyKevin · 03/12/2018 17:02

Go anyway and pay the fine if you get one?
It's not the school that will fine you anyway, it's the local council. The schools have absolutely no leeway about holidays. A holiday is unfortunately not exceptional circumstances, so there's no valid reason why they should authorise.

MrsDeanWinchester75 · 03/12/2018 17:04

Dd's school always refuses to authorise but never fines.

Speak to other parents at the school and see if they've been fined.

BarbaraRoyale · 03/12/2018 17:04

The EWO's issue the fine , not the school and I cant see them bothering with this
The school are worried about their attendance %
Go and have a lovely holiday

Original poster
Llanali · 03/12/2018 17:06

Hmm legally they can go straight to prosecution.... in magistrates court. Which can result in a prison sentence. Though I guess actually going to prison would be unlikely?

Is ‘prosecution’ definitely only a fine? It doesn’t look that way on the government and council websites....

OP posts:
CantWaitToRetire · 03/12/2018 17:08

Only a Local Authority can prosecute parents for non-attendance without issuing a Fixed Penalty Notice (fine), not the school itself, so the school would have to refer it to the LA. Local authorities have to conduct investigations in line with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE). I can't see a LA going to this trouble for a just-five-year old missing a week of Reception.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 03/12/2018 17:09

And don't talk to me like I'm 14, thank you. .

If parents are not allowed to take their kids on holiday in school time when it's cheaper. Then it is classist. I'm not taking it back either. Its not just about how I feel. Its a fact.
If I didn't mean it. I wouldn't write it.

Original poster
Llanali · 03/12/2018 17:09

This is what I’m worried about.
I need to speak to the school I think. I’m in for surgery for the miscarriage on Wednesday and they won’t do appts in the office on Thursdays and Fridays. Bollocks!!

... school not authorising absence- WWYD?
OP posts:
theonlyKevin · 03/12/2018 17:13

If parents are not allowed to take their kids on holiday in school time when it's cheaper. Then it is classist.

GrinGrinGrin

do you actually read what you write? This is why I love MN, some posters are gems.

MerryMarigold · 03/12/2018 17:13

Just go. I've taken dc out for a few days. It's a good reason. They are just scare mongering. Some schools (depending on head) are more heavy handed in their correspondence than others but never heard of a prosecution for a week off too visit family abroad! Our head at newish school is pretty bad and I had to sit on my keyboard warrior fingers to stop myself sending him a very sharp retort along the lines of focusing more on recruiting and training decent teachers instead of relying on attendance to get them a decent ofsted. Anyway, I did restrain myself! My dc will get the school some good SAT scores despite taking 1.5 days of authorised absence!!

lessthanBeau · 03/12/2018 17:15

The school are saying they'll prosecute you - they aren't authorised to prosecute the council decides that, the school notifys the council and the council send you a penalty notice for £60 if you don't pay, it doubles, if you still don't pay they take you to court and prosecute. Look up your local authority and it will say what happens if the school notifys them of unauthorised absence. All the school can do is tell them,the rest is up to the council. Our council will only send one penalty notice per school year. So even if we had 3 or 4 holidays in one school year the council will only ever issue one penalty notice, but all councils have different rules.

waterrat · 03/12/2018 17:15

oh god of course they won't prosecute. As if courts and local authorities don't have better things to do.

Don't even think twice just go.

RibbonAurora · 03/12/2018 17:16

Bloody hell, just book it and go. You know a week out of school at this age is not going to negatively impact your child's education and career prospects for the rest of her life no matter what anyone says. These absentee rules were originally brought in to stamp down on parents whose children were chronically and habitually truanting or absent for no good reason not for those who occasionally took their child out for a special occasion or holiday. Don't give in to this petty-minded bullying bureacracy.They are NOT going to prosecute you and if they fine you, just pay it and know it was worth it it.

waterrat · 03/12/2018 17:17

Going to prison is 'unlikely'?? er what. It's completely insanely absolutely impossible.

This would not be taken to court - you will be fined you will pay the fine you will not think about it again.

Its a stupid system I hate it - As if a 5 year old needs to be at school - they aren't even at school at 5 in most european countries.

lessthanBeau · 03/12/2018 17:18

Also even though it says they can prosecute without doing any of the above, it is very costly to do that and I have never heard of anyone going straight to court. Has anyone else?

brizzledrizzle · 03/12/2018 17:19

The school have to tell the local education authority and it's up to them if they make you pay a fine or not. The school aren't the ones who make the decision.

Your local council can give you a fine of £60, which rises to £120 if you don’t pay within 21 days. If you don’t pay the fine after 28 days you may be prosecuted for your child’s absence from school.

put your postcode in www.gov.uk/find-local-council and it'll have a link to see what your local council policy is about fines.

Pippa12 · 03/12/2018 17:19

Honestly its just a fine, they cannot authorise the trip, tbh its pointless asking but i do out of courtesy. I'll be taking my daughter out (7yrs) in April for a hol as it is litrally the only week me and DH have got off in 12 months due to the AL weeks ive been dished out. Go and enjoy, sounds like you need the break Flowers

Original poster
Llanali · 03/12/2018 17:21

So general consensus is to ignore the threat and pay the fine if we get one?

Thanks for al the input. I wish we could home educate to avoid this but it’s not an option for us.

I’ll have a frank chat with the council tomorrow I guess. When I’m feeling a bit less tearful!

OP posts:
AndThereSaw · 03/12/2018 17:22

If your DD has missed 5 days (10 sessions) since september she'll be flagged as missing more than 10% which will require a firmer stance.
You aren't going until February. get her attendance right up before then.
Just book and go. The school will do what the school will do. No-one is going to prison for a holiday with a 5 year old.

gnushoes · 03/12/2018 17:23

I think if you make the point that you and your DP CANNOT take off the time in the holidays, about your miscarriage, and the only-living-relative bit, and there shouldn't be a problem. They may have no choice but to fine, but that's as far as it'll go.

AndThereSaw · 03/12/2018 17:24

I honestly wouldn't go back to the school or council at this stage. You've told them you're going. They've told you the possible outcome.
I'd leave it until February.

minisoksmakehardwork · 03/12/2018 17:25

Did the parent emigrate to Aus or is one of you Aussie and came to the UK?

I only as as my dc went to school with a family where the mother was from Thailand. Every year they would go back to Thailand to see family etc for a couple of weeks, often during term time as it has to be when the dad could get leave and had it authorised due to the child being dual heritage. I don't know if all authorities do this but since there is a family reason for visiting, not just a standard holiday, I personally would do it and ring the education welfare officer for clarification rather than the school, whose hands will be tied.

Chocolala · 03/12/2018 17:26

So general consensus is to ignore the threat and pay the fine if we get one?

That’s my advice. Chances are they won’t bother with even referring to the LA and nothing will happen. My friend took her daughter out for two weeks (reception) and simply budgeted for the fine. Didn’t even get fined.

Auntpetunia2015 · 03/12/2018 17:28

Honestly there is no point speaking to the council nothing will change. Their hands are tied by the law put in place by David Cameron. You’ve told them just keep her in school between now and then and then go on holiday. Don’t even remind them before you go. Is DD already 5?

BewareOfDragons · 03/12/2018 17:28

The school office probably thought your DD was still 4 and it wouldn't matter technically.

Can you ask for a supporting letter from your GP and places of work, re why you couldn't travel last year this time, and why you couldn't travel this Christmas, etc.

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