£1,000 fines per parent per child to be trialled in Lancashire

[mummymeister]

Aibu to think that this will disproportionately hit poorer families, those not in private schools (where fines don't apply) and those people with jobs where you cant just take time off in school holidays.

Not sure how many people have seen this news item but it was pretty inevitable that the fines would go up massively to deter days off in term. The trial is for £1,000 fines per parent per child - so £4,000 for a family of 4 making it less attractive to take the odd day at the start/beginning of a holiday.

www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/parents-to-be-fined-%c2%a31000-for-taking-children-on-holiday-during-term-time/ar-BBSuKFY?ocid=ientp

how My annual leave period this year is May, September then Feb 2020. This is just an example of one year.

So my kids never get to go a family holiday then?

They're all expensive.

I really think this is bettter.Either price everybody out or nobody.

I used to be a schoolteacher. I would say that parents can take children out of school without fines IF they accept that 1) the teacher will have to do no extra work regarding their child who has missed classes, and 2) that the rest of the students do not suffer in any way by having recaps etc for said absent child ... the main thing is that those present in school are not affected in any way, and neither are the staff. Parents should take full responsibility, and sadly it would be detrimental to some children to miss classes.

Actually I do know poorer families who take term time holidays. It just tends to be to caravan parks which they are normally out priced from.

May and September are amongst the worst times to take time off school, and there's a half term in February.

Children don't NEED holidays abroad.

It's pointless to say that it doesn't damage education just because it's fine for some children who go on to get degrees and professional jobs. Not all children are capable of getting a degree, and while it may not make a difference doing it just the once with low ability children, doing it every year does make a difference, especially if those are the children that don't get support with their learning at home.

Of course attendance makes a difference. If there wasn't data to support that, schools wouldn't need to be so against term time holiday in the first place.

I’m not taking my kids out this May or September. And it’s a long weekend we are off in feb so they would need to miss school to go then. Im going on holiday in May with my dad but they aren’t coming with me!

May 2020 they will be taken out for two weeks, right enough.

Children might not need holidays to somewhere nice but parents do. Especially if they suffer a mental health problem like anxiety or depression. A holiday away really can help mental health.
It's no wonder home schooling is becoming more and more popular.

Nails - its not about holidays abroad.

its about Unauthorised absences.

no one is talking about a right to go to spain or Orlando.

its about families who are constrained either financially or due to work taking time off when convenient and acceptable to the school.

Everybody understands that the odd term time holiday is fine.

Are you ok with your child's teachers taking 2 weeks off so that they can go on holiday?

Many of them have children and are missing out on holidays because it's too expensive.

I find it arrogant, the clear assumption that every single minute spent in school is high quality education - even the last week of term where they seem to just play games and watch DVDs - whereas every minute spent outside of school (excluding homework, presumably) is just wasted in worthless, unedifying frivolity.

Yes, school is very important, but so is relaxing, recreational time with family. If a family can't afford the sky-high prices in the school holidays and/or simply cannot get annual leave to coincide with the school holidays, are they just expected to never have a holiday? It isn't just about the parents, either - if you have to wait until children finish school before you can go on family holidays, they'll likely be too old to really enjoy it anyway by then.

It does say fines up to £1,000. I've a vague recollection that there's a thing about fines being punitive, but not to the point a person is left in severe financial difficulty and able to pay it off within 12 months.

I took 2 of mine out for a term-time holiday but the school authorised it. We didn't go abroad, DS1 wasn't going on the Yr6 week residential (he has ASD) and the school were satisfied it was exceptional circumstances and authorised for his brother's leave as well. It was June, and their attendance was around 97% or so.

You take a job as a teacher so you know when your holidays are. It’s one of the pros/cons of the job.

What people mean is they are priced out of Ibiza type all inclusive during August. Most people can afford a caravan type holiday in the uk but that’s not good enough. They want unlimited sangria and holiday club to shove their kids into

I’ve never taken mine out in school time also not been aboard since they started school.

Nicknacky

Surely that applies to all jobs with allocated holidays though doesn't it?

weetabix No, and for similar reasons some people can not take annual leave during school holidays, because it is the busiest time of the year. But we are not talking about staff here, but about children.

I would support this though if it was applied sensibly and not just uniform across the board.

Well, no. I get allocated holidays during term time and I can go then. Teachers don’t have term time holidays.

My kids then come with me. I’m not going 20+ years without a holiday with my children.

Fines only kick in after 5 days in lancs so you've always been able to take four days unauthorised for example and not be fined. It's the norm here in Lancashire for people to tag a holiday on an inset week so get find doesn't kick in. So it's scaremongering to say it'll affect funerals etc etc

Chilli - not sure thats the case. A holiday park in the summer holidays is really expensive. Weve taken a friday off school when the monday is an inset day mid term to afford a 4 day holiday park holiday before. Many in our school used to do it for the sun holidays which often arent school holidays. Dependa on your starting point.

It isnt scaremongering - our school has just changed its policies to fine every time even if just one instance.

Plus sons schools still authorise. My kids attend school - never miss a day really and our head authorises a week if you word it right! It's only unauthorised if head refuses it - not all do

yes Weetabix it does apply to all the jobs with allocated holidays. and with those where only one person is allowed off at a time and you all want childrens holidays. and that's why so many councils are still issuing so many fines. they cant all be for the middle classes can they?

Wow a grand? That's insane. Who could actually afford that?

Buttercup that's sensible. Our head doesnt!