Requesting child time off school during term for a holiday

[Yellowskies1988]

Just wondering how schools are with having time off during term time... bit of a long read and circumstances which I feel need to be included, here goes...

I'm married and we have 2 children aged 8 and 5. Our 8YO is autistic and attends special school, our 5 YO is in reception at mainstream, the same class that our 8YO was in before getting a place at special school.

With the 8YO hos school do encourage family time when possible and allowed leave of absence I think it was 3 years ago when we last went away. Primary reasons for this was it's a quieter and and put 8YO is easier to manage. Will my youngest child school be allowing LOA if we cite this as a main reason.

We had no plans to go away again this year as mu wife has Huntingtons disease (yes I've banged on about this in past posts before) and she is getting no better, over the last 12 months she has had her hours and wage reduced at work dramatically, she pretty much (barley) covers only the shopping bill now. And I have worked full time since I was 17 (now 32) for Christmas this year my sister has paid for the 4 of us to go away on holiday for a week during term time. I cried when I opened the envolpole, its actually an all inclusive abroad holiday i never expected it and any holiday would have been maybe a weekend away, we havent been away as a family for 3 years and our youngest child asked a few times last year about a holiday as his friends were going.

Anyway, how strict/lenient are schools about this issue as I would rather not get a fine.

Excuse the terrible typing

No school is allowed to approve holidays so in some cases, it's best to not request and just go.

Rubbish. Our school authorises you to ten days a year without any exceptional circs. It totally depends on the school and the LA, OP, only way to find out is to talk to the school.

Once a Summer born starts school it becomes mandatory, they don’t let you pick a he choose once they enrolled.

Also rubbish. You can send them part time right up until the term after their fifth birthday if you want to (as I did with one dc). There’s nothing anyone can do to stop you. They might give the impression that they can but in law they can’t.

They shouldn’t authorise it. No schools are allowed to. The 13 weeks annual holiday is deemed enough.

When does your youngest turn 5?

Most schools won't authorise a holiday though I find special schools do tend to be more accommodating.

Yes some mainstream schools do authorise holiday but they tend to not be the norm.

The chances of a fine are more about the LEA you are in. Mine doesn't fine often, my SIL LEA seem to give it fines like a ticker tape parade.

Out of interest, when did your youngest turn 5?

A few years ago I requested holiday leave for exceptional reasons. My son had epilepsy in remission, and his consultant wrote a letter stating that he was to be withdrawn from treatment over the 6 weeks of the school holidays (close to the hospital in case of an emergency). His pre-school sister had a huge tumour removed from her neck in June, and I had 3 significant surgeries that year. The headteacher agreed I could take my son out of school for a term holiday (it was 4 days of absence in July before the school holidays started). However, upon our return there was a school fine from the council. I appealed with the medical evidence but got the old 'rules is rules' line. You are likely to be fined as they rarely bend the rules to set a legal example. In your situation, my kids would be coming down with viral and highly contagious illness or even stress related to family circumstances. Get your GP on board in case school request a sick note. If your child(ren) has an illness, there is no obligation for a parent to keep them home during that period...

I think you should just apply and cross your fingers!!

We applied last year - 2 children in yrs 5 & 10 - and it was granted. We asked for it to be under exceptional circumstances as we'd been through a horrendous time for a couple of years and been offered the trip of a lifetime. We expected DS2's school to agree ( as it was his illness that had made life tough) but not DS1's school. However they agreed and even added a note wishing us an amazing time!

When is DC2 5? School is not mandatory until the term they turn 5 I think....

I can see @UpperLowercaseSymbolNumber’s point - you have what? 14 weeks holiday per year? Why didn’t your sister book your holiday in that time and save you this aggro?

I have a nephew with autism, and his sister is neurotypical. Until recently they were at the same school but he’s moved up to secondary now. My sister and brother in law tend to take a holiday in term time as it tends to be less people-y for my nephew. School so far has agreed this is sensible and that the break from the classroom would benefit, so have authorised it. I don’t know what will happen now they’re in different schools, but presumably my niece’s school will remember my nephew for a long while!
Good luck!

School is compulsory the term after a child turns 5 so for your reception child it might not matter.

My cousin requested time off for both my nephew and niece who had autism and attends a special school. Both schools were very understanding of the situation (the need for it to be quieter) and authorised the holidays no problem, I hope you experience the same. Happy holidaying

You may get a fine, my LA do fine, and it was £60 per parent, so £120 per child. The head told me they are humstrung not and can’t authorise leave for a holiday ever as it would never be considered exceptional circumstances.
If I was you, I’d still go and enjoy yourselves.

Hamstrung now

Many LAs and MATs instruct schools to not grant the holiday request and process the fine. The school is not given a choice. However, that should not stop you putting in a request with a good, detailed, supporting statement including the points you have included here about
Your son's condition and how it is a better time for him to cope
Your wife's condition and how it has deteriorated
The affect on her working life and the impact on the family financially
The strain you are all under
Your sister's present to you
Your son's school's response

I would go as far as appealing to the Chair of Govs if it is turned down.

Good luck!

I've had a holiday approved under exceptional circumstances for my 2 school age DC. It was June and their attendance % was sufficiently high. DS1 wasn't going on the school residential, and was the only one not going. He has ASD Yr6 had been shit and him not going made it much easier on the teacher. We booked a family holiday and asked for both him and DS2 and they agreed it. but tbh I would have taken a fine for DS2 on the chin.

I hope you're able to get it authorised

What a wonderful gift from your sister! Sorry I don't have any advice as I don't live in the UK, but I just wanted to wish you all a fabulous holiday.

I’m a head a year so these requests come to me...we generally ask for evidence (if they can provide it) that it’s exceptional circumstances and a good chunk of the time we will authorise. Sometimes we only authorise so many days. If it’s a day before request they are more likely to get turned down. Some are unauthorised but we try to work with the parents/carers as much as possible. Most parents understand the LA/council side of it so we don’t get the flack if we unauthorise. Parents tend to take them anyway authorised or unauthorised. But as I said we are fortunate that parents ask us and we do what we can and most I deal with are ok with the decision or at least understand it. I haven’t gone to the point of fining anyone though or starting that process.

Good luck and enjoy that holiday. Don't forget to mention to the youngest's school that quieter is best for SN... Fingers crossed for you not to be fined and to have a fantastic time.

Goodness, you are having a tough time. Sounds exactly like you need a holiday. Your sister is a star.

I would just ask and hopefully common sense will prevail.

Could you get a letter from your oldest child's school? Explaining what you've told us, often they like evidence and this could sway it for you! Also, if your youngest child has good attendance currently then you may not be fined anyway, as I think attendance needs to drop below a certain % before a fine is considered (could be wrong though)

It's my understanding that in exceptional circumstances the headteacher can authorise absences at her discretion and in each request is she will look carefully at the evidence provided by parents so although the guidelines state No termtime holidays the haed does have some power to authorise or decline permission.
Request a holiday form with a detailed letter of your circs addressed to the head/ attendance officer and hopefully they will authorise it.
Good luck!

I think the trigger is 5 days. The head will have a policy that they must adhere to as, unfortunately, everyone has extenuating circumstances.

You have a lovely sister 💐