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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Requesting child time off school during term for a holiday

71 replies

Yellowskies1988 · 05/01/2020 22:47

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.

OP posts:

Mascarponeandwine · 06/01/2020 07:07

I don’t want to pour more cold water on this thread, but have you got decent travel insurance to cover the pre existing health issues? I imagine covering Huntington’s (and possibly SEN) might be pretty costly, and you mention needing to avoid a fine to pay for a passport. You’d need a bit more than just relying on an EHIC.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 06/01/2020 07:12

They may deny your request but legally speaking you can have up to 5 days within a 12 week period without triggering a fine. Enjoy your holiday and make memories💕

bananaskinsnomnom · 06/01/2020 07:18

One of my friends takes her kids out every year in July for a week. Both state school primary, not once has she received a fine (I asked her when me and friends were looking and she said she had never got one, not was it ever authorised)

A colleague took her son (year 2) out last summer term for two weeks in Disneyworld - I remember her saying the head was turning a blind eye. As far as I know she never got a fine.

Third friend (of my sister) took her primary aged children out for a week and received £60 fine per child, so just £120 overall. Came through in October. She still says it’s cheaper this way.

All these were the same county.

I have no real idea how they work it out. Also worth noting that compulsory school age isn’t until the term after a child is 5 so that may help with the reception child?

SquashedFlyBiscuit · 06/01/2020 07:23

Everyone who takes their children out in my school is fined. The head of the MAT annually sends a letter out to remind everyone!!

I looked at the Local authority website and it does seem to be to be either 5 days, or more than 1 instance (of a day) in a year.

Original poster

Yellowskies1988 · 06/01/2020 07:23

To clear a few questions up.
@olivertwistwantsmore
I have no idea why it was booked during term time... to be honest that's the least of my worries I'm just exceptionally grateful of the gift. All I'm wondering is what is the likelihood of getting fined. How the, does anybody expect me to open this £2000 odd present and me to say "well you could have booked it during half term" (prices increase)

@spacedust1
My youngest was 5 in November,

On a side note I'm hoping the school are a little more allowing as when my oldest attended reception class at their school before getting into special school (he was in reception right through September- july) he only attended half days, this was more school wanting this agreement than us as parents but he really didnt settle at all.

Another point, with the flight times I would be requesting 6 school days off Tuesday and back in the following Wednesday as the flight return lands early on the Tuesday morning

OP posts:

SquashedFlyBiscuit · 06/01/2020 07:31

(To clarify, our school would fine, but I would def go anyway. I think thisbthread goes to show how differently different schools approach the guidelines. We cant tell you.)

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 06/01/2020 07:41

Talk to the head-to me this would go under exceptional circumstances and at the head’s discretion.

Looneytune253 · 06/01/2020 07:42

I don't generally agree with term time holidays but in your case I would absolutely take advantage of this. As for whether you'd get a fine, I just don't know. It's very doubtful this would fall under extreme circumstances under the usual criteria: this doesn't mean you will get a fine though. In our school, if attendance is good they don't send a fine. I would suppose it depends on the attitude of the school so no one can tell you this apart from the school or other parents attending that school.

Looneytune253 · 06/01/2020 07:46

For all those saying they could have booked it in holiday time, did you not read about one of the children having SN? Op mentioned it being quieter for them which is quite important for the enjoyment of the holiday. Also as someone booked it as a very generous gift it's hardly fair for them to expect them to pay thousands extra

Grasspigeons · 06/01/2020 07:55

My Head wouldnt authorise a term holidays whatever the reason - but she doesnt issue a fine either.
The 6 day thing may be a problem as it tends to be 5 days off is ok but day 6 triggers fines in some places. Can the kids go to school very tired on that day.

Original poster

Yellowskies1988 · 06/01/2020 08:07

@SquashedFlyBiscuit lol tell me about it. I think it's pretty 50/50

@Looneytune253 thanks very much that was the point of the thread.

@grasspigeons we land at like 5.30am and it's a hour back to home assuming no delays, I've thought about sending them back on the Tuesday lunch time of the day we land.

To reiterate, it's not a question of not going, that's not happening, we will be going. It's just a case of what past experiences have you guys had regarding planned time off

OP posts:

oblada · 06/01/2020 08:34

Have you checked your LA's policy on this? In terms of attendance levels etc before they fine? My LA only fines after 10 days unauthorised within an 8 weeks period or sth like that. So a 5-6 days unauthorised holiday wouldn't lead to a fine (we're going skiing in a few weeks, definitely going to be unauthorised but school doesn't actually mind and we're comfortable with our choice - definitely a choice in our case - and we won't get fined).

oblada · 06/01/2020 08:39

Also - it's not the school issuing fines (in my understanding) - it's passed on to the local authority and every local authority has a different policy on it. Schools are v restricted in what they can authorise. Doesn't mean they have an issue with the holiday itself. I requested 2 days to go to France for my grand-mother's 90th birthday family celebration, to me this was pretty special of course: they refused as not exceptional circumstances (ironic that time would be authorised for her funeral) but wished us well and we're very supportive of the kids missing school for this...

jakeyboy1 · 06/01/2020 08:40

If you google your local authority and term time fines you'll get a very quick idea of how zealous they are. It isn't a thing near me (midlands based and 3 nearest local authorities don't really pursue it) however we have had a note from school recently saying if you take more than 4 days off there will now be a fine. But it's £60 so I know what I'd prefer! Good luck!

Mulledwineinajug · 06/01/2020 23:09

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

This just isn’t true.

RachelEllenR · 06/01/2020 23:13

We went last year and our reasons weren't as good as yours. It wasn't authorised but we never received a fine. I'd be prepared for it though.

Notagainnnn · 06/01/2020 23:19

I have diagnosis of ASD and fibromyalgia. My daughter has heart issues and my son is currently being assessed (last stage) for ASD too as he is struggling. We explained our reasons that our family needed quiter time to go.

School refused to authorise, they waited until last day of term at the end of the day to tell me so. (holiday was first week of sept) to tell me when I had told them 5 months prior. They said that it was disruptive to start of new school year.
A hurricane threw us off plan and we had to go two weeks later so they didn't miss beginning of school year. I updated the school, no authorisation letter or unauthorised letter. Nothing.

No fine, yet. I've saved money for it.

Point is, they don't care.

SquashedFlyBiscuit · 06/01/2020 23:49

I agree re holiday for ASD (we are going to take a week in term time for the same time) but first week of school is possibly the worst time to go and most disruptive for the child. I'd never intentionally do that. For an autistic child especially its when the routines are set and the rhythm is established and its much harder to fit in when that's missed. Also friendships can be tricky for autistic children and its when they're often beginning to form.

Notagainnnn · 07/01/2020 00:26

We did it then because it overlapped with a residential school trip that he wasn't comfortable going on and didn't want his friends laughing at him for not wanting to go. Worked out in the end. The headteacher said the same things in her letter but had she told me her concerns when I booked it and told her in my letter, I would have moved it. Instead she waited until after the final payment date and then I couldn't move it without a very hefty payment. The hurricane saved us... very unfortunately.

Spacedust1 · 07/01/2020 00:46

We've taken the odd day next to a weekend. School won't authorise the days but have never fined us

cabbageking · 07/01/2020 01:06

Each LA has their own policy and many extend the minimum amount needed to fine a person. ( but not reduce it)

Therefore google your own Council LA policy on fines in school time and then request time off under exceptional circumstances ( not holiday)
It is up to the Head and until you apply you won't know the outcome.

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