To take my children out of school next week?

[Conair]

I have 4 children, one has just has a positive case of covid in his class so has to isolate until Thursday 17th December ( the school is taking an inset day on Friday 18th so this will be the last day of term)
Due to this my husband is now working from home on the days I don't work to look after him.. I am seriously considering taking my other children out of school in order to try and have the family Christmas I have planned all year so there is less risk of them having to isolate over the Christmas period... I know there is no guarantees.
I appreciate this may be a divisive subject but one I think I'm making in the best interests of my family...
Would the school allow this? Or would I face a fine? I'm sure we are allowed 5 days before we are fined by I really want to make sure before I make my decision.

I'm seriously considering taking mine out for the last few days. Under normal circumstances I wouldn't dream of taking my children out however my partner hasn't seen his mother this year and so I believe it's more important we get to see her and the rest of the family than my children miss a few days at the end of term.

I think I will be taking my DD out of nursery, we haven’t seen our family all year and I don’t want to risk not being able to see them

I'm a teacher. We expect to see fewer children next week. Don't worry about it.

My son was told to self isolate on Friday after only being back at school for 3 days after self isolating for 2 weeks, so now we have to self isolate for another 2 weeks (4 weeks total) both times I’ve had to take all my children off school (3 of them) as I’m a single parent and no one to do the school run, they said he could return on the 17th but I told them we won’t be risking it!

It also states it here

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/schoolsweek.co.uk/jon-platt-loses-landmark-term-time-holiday-legal-challenge/amp/

This also states

Schools insist on 100 per cent attendance not because they want to restrict family holidays, but because any amount of time off means children missing out on key parts of the education they are entitled to, affecting their life chances further down the line. It also places additional burdens on already hard working teachers and support staff.”

As a parent of a teen who had 60% attendance for four years due to anxiety, you will not get fined for a week.

The EWO would have to be involved first. Then they talk to you, make a plan to improve attendance and it gets reviewed. I was never fined because it's not black and white. Plus the school has to decide to call in the EWO. I doubt they will for one week as it's time, paperwork, meetings and a massive PITA for them.

In other words out of proportion for just one week.

Make the best decision for your family, OP. Only you know if that’s your DH trying to WFH with 4 DC to look after or sending them in. I shouldn’t think school will be bothered with the paperwork to fine you the 4-day week pre-Christmas in a pandemic.

@RedditFreak With all due respect you are quoting the man who took it to the Supreme Court not the judge. You could say the same for speeding, going one mile over is an offence but you don’t see thousands of people getting taken to court for it.

You do you, you are homeschooling for your own reasons and that’s great. Please don’t make the OP feel like she is going to get fined if she takes them out this week.

Even if your fb group statistics are to be beloved, 10 people in the last five years isn’t exactly a lot. Also, none of those people were trying to manage during a pandemic.

However. My personal opinion

Is do what's best for your family. I was just stating from a legal standpoint. The precedent which had been set due to the Supreme Court ruling on the job platt vs Isle of Wight council.

But do whatever is good for you all

@Yesmate but whilst you may think she won't. It's wrong to allow her to think it's impossible. It isn't. Head teachers can authorise. But not all do. That case made the court and the gov define regular attendance. Which is what the fining system is based on.

I very much doubt the school/ local authority will fine parents of kids that are not in school the last week before Xmas during a Global pandemic. They would have to prove your child wasn't ill, I can see lots of tummy bugs or COVID symptoms being had the last week of school!

@RedditFreak Everyone knows it can happen, you have to be realistic about the chances of it though. By immediately saying 100% and one minute late you sounded (forgive me if I’m wrong) that you were telling the OP she will get fined.

Ok. Here is the actual legislation. Retrieved from the court case

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/56/section/444

@MindThatTree Just tell school there’s been a positive case in your household and the kids now need to isolate.

That's a really terrible and selfish idea, as the whole class/bubble will also be told to self isolate for 2 weeks!

I'm in the same position. I have a dd13 who is isolating until the 16th and DSD12 who is isolating until the 17th. 3 other children in the house and I'm pregnant.
My other 2 school aged children are being kept at home next week.

@RedditFreak I’m not saying that the legislation doesn’t exist 🙄

@VenusTiger no they wouldn't unless she says it's her actual child she's keeping off that's positive.

@Yesmate

Apology accepted.

I also apologise. What I meant it. It is not impossible to have it happen. Because the legislation had been changed. Due to that one case.

Can I also state that I massively disagree with it. I feel as a parent. We have the right to educate our children so we see fit (which we do). But also within the state schooling system. It's primarily one of the reasons why I felt so let down by them.

Mine all out already and won’t be back for the first 2 weeks in jan as I’m not exposing them to the Xmas/new year mixing germs

The school have said it will be authorised they need to do their online work

I doubt you’d get a fine but I wouldn’t do it, kids have missed enough school and even though meeting up over Christmas is allowed it’s not the best idea.

If you are going to do it make sure it’s a non COVID related reason otherwise you might create a load of work for the school and risk others having to isolate/cancel their plans

Check your school policy. Our school has specifically emailed to say that anyone who wants to remove their child and work from home for the last week of term to prevent contact prior to Christmas and avoid having to potentially isolate over Christmas, may do so - without any penalty and it will be marked as an authorised absence. I'm wondering how many will be away!!!

I’m a headteacher. I fully expect a high level of absence next week. I am sure that there will be a number of very creative reasons why children will not be able to attend. I have no inclination at all to investigate each and every absence and verify the reason given. Good luck to those who can do it and I hope that they all have a wonderful, safe Christmas with their families.

The very, very last thing I would ever think to do is to fine parents for doing the best for their families after this incredibly difficult year.

@Brightbluebell you sound like a lovely Headteacher! Any jobs going?😂 (who knows you could be my Head!)

Thanks some very valid and useful points to consider here.
I think I'm going to do it.
Thanks again