to ask school to authorise absence for center parcs

[needabreak5]

We have booked the CP village near my parents (300 miles from us), for next month. Friday to Monday, term time so two days off school. It was originally booked for last year, before DS started school, cancelled due covid, rebooked for Christmas (then cancelled), re-booked for easter (cancelled). On this fourth re-book the only available dates were during term-time DC haven't seen grandparents for 10 months - we are desperate for a mini holiday after so many disappointments and cancellations. If you were the head would you allow the absence?

[bumhug]

If you say you're separated you'll only get fined once.

[eeyore228]

@ PlanDeRaccordement I'm sure the fine is per child per parent because both parents have an obligation to ensure their child is in school. Therefore they fine both parents unless one has no interaction with their child.

[bumhug]

We're currently in the car on the way home from a Mon-Fri (3rd time lucky) break at centreparcs.

My eldest is in reception so it meant 4 days off school.

The school sent the form back with it ticked as unauthorised.

His teacher wished him a happy holiday at pick up last Friday.

What are you worrying about exactly?

[LadyDanburysCane]

[quote GardenWander]@Smartiepants79 No, I don’t work through my holidays. I get 25 days a year, 5 of which are used to cover inset days scheduled during term time! There are 13 weeks of school holidays per annum, so I don’t know why teachers use term time for training[/quote]
I’m support staff not a teacher but I have to do training on inset days too. This can be safeguarding, prevent, FGM, First Aid etc. If the inset is doing training not relevant to me then I am still in school doing stock checks, clearing up, catching up on paperwork etc. I WILL NOT do this during the holidays as I am only paid for 39 weeks per year (resulting in a salary under the tax threshold). I did work for more than 39 weeks last academic year as the school stayed open over the Easter and May holidays (including the bank holidays) and none of use complained OR got extra pay because it was to provide essential support for our vulnerable children BUT please don’t ask me to take o. training during the 13 weeks of the year that I am NOT paid for!

[Wheresmycider]

We did similar a few years ago. One day was an inset, so we were under the threshold for getting fined and our son's attendance was very good.
We submitted the form on the understanding that the headteacher wasnt allowed to approve holiday, but at least they were aware and we didnt have to pretend. They were surprisingly ok with it and appreciated the honesty.

[LadyDanburysCane]

We aren’t allowed to authorise holidays. It also isn’t the school who decides to fine - that’s down to the LA. The LA only get interested if there is a lot of absence. Two days if your DC usually have good attendance shouldn’t trigger any action.

The only dates available for me to rearrange a holiday I had booked for last May is during term time so I have had to forfeit it - remember that school staff have no options about when they have holidays.....

[FoxyTheFox]

Children have to be offered an education for 190 days of the year so there will always be inset days as the 13wks school holidays doesn't cover the remainder of the year. Even the 13wks school holiday isn't a holiday for the staff as there is still planning to do, departmental meetings, planning meetings, exam marking, etc. The teachers I know all still have some level of work to do during school holidays.

[Smartiepants79]

Term time, as in the time they’re supposed to be teaching your children? Or the inset days during term time that I just explained are used for training?
They do work in the holidays. Quite a lot.
I’m well aware that the holidays are one of the (few) perks of my job but I’m not entirely sure why I should be expected to work through them as a matter of course...

[GardenWander]

@Smartiepants79 No, I don’t work through my holidays. I get 25 days a year, 5 of which are used to cover inset days scheduled during term time! There are 13 weeks of school holidays per annum, so I don’t know why teachers use term time for training

[Smartiepants79]

@GardenWander do you work through your holidays?
Inset days are generally used for training purposes. Actual time to do admin, planning, classroom sorting is very rare.
I do think insets should be planned into the calendar in advance though.

[toocoldforsno]

@SpilltheTea

We weren't allowed to see a terminally ill relative abroad, so center parcs wouldn't stand a chance at our school.

You let the school decide whether you went or not?

[MummyTo2GorgeousMunchkins]

The fine is per parent per child so yes a family with two parents living together would pay more than a family with one parent.

Have a look at your local authority policy on issuing fixed penalty notices. Where I work we only refer for a FPN for absences of three days or more so while an absence of two days would be unauthorised it would not be referred for a FPN. Where my children go to school it’s only for absences of five days or more.

[monkeymoonpig]

Fine here is per parent per child.

[Jangle33]

We are all desperate for a holiday.

And many people haven’t seen grandparents for longer than 10 months.

Struggling to see why you think your Head should authorise a jolly. Not like you’re attending a funeral.

[GardenWander]

We’re missing 2 days of school to go on a mini break in June. I wasn’t planning on filling in the form, but will let the school office know the day before. Also Reception age. The school just announced another random inset day (no idea why they can’t do their planning during the actual holidays), so I’m not concerned about announcing my own days off school.

[Maray1967]

We asked for last two days of the school year when DS2 was in year 5 as we were heading to the states for a big holiday and we had to be back in time for DS1 A level results . I’d booked flights based on previous year’s end of term dates but not spotted early enough that this year they were to attend the following Monday and Tuesday. Head sent back the standard not authorised letter but added ‘I hope you all have a great time’!! to it and we were not fined.
If we had been fined I was intending to demand to see the lesson plans for the last two days of the school year as the previous 6 years they had consisted of watching films and not doing any academic work whatsoever- understandable for the last two days.
School have always asked parents to be honest and not lie. Kids usually give it away and it causes some bad feeling between the school and the parents. I’ve also heard reports that parents have been caught at Manchester airport and fined by Liverpool LEA staff.

[Moonface123]

The school don't own your children. I strongly disagree with this not allowing them time off in term time, not all parents have a choice as to when they can have their holidays.
I took my two sons out of secondary school for a week when we went to Spain several years ago and my sister rang in everyday to say they were off sick. They both returned to school tanned as very Olive skin, but nothing was said, and on so glad l did as we haven't been able to have a holiday since.

[BelleBlueBell]

@SpilltheTea

We weren't allowed to see a terminally ill relative abroad, so center parcs wouldn't stand a chance at our school.

What do you mean you weren't allowed? How could the school stop you visiting dying relatives? Of course you could have gone, you might have got a fine but surely that would have been worth paying.

Did you really not go because you thought the school could stop you, that is so sad if true.

[Jowak1]

The fine is per parent but I at my school your only fined for 5 or more days- go she's only in reception she won't miss anything and after the year everyone has just had, have fun and see family!

[Tianatiers]

YANBU but I'm not a headteacher and I'm saying that as a fellow parent. It's two days of reception, I'm sure it'll be fine. My DD missed over a term of reception last year.

[KizzyMoo]

I had a get a doctors letter saying why my son needed 3 weeks off school after major surgery or it wouldn't have been authorised. Recovery time was actually 6 weeks so he did well being back after 3. Can't see them authorising CP 😂

[NoFashion]

They won't authorise but I've taken mine out numerous times for long weekends. Also for theatre matinees once or twice. (We picked up at lunch time)

I'm always honest and do a holiday form. Rather that than make DC pretend they were unwell etc. And I check with DC if they'd rather have the holiday or the 100% attendance certificate. Guess which they choose.

They still have 97-99% attendance each year and are exceeding in all areas.

So I refuse to feel guilty about it during primary years. And even less so after the year we've had.

For reference the head/class teachers always wish us a nice holiday. So although they've "denied" it they aren't thinking negatively of us.

[Tatum1234]

They won’t allow it,but I’d go anyway and not worry about it. Life’s too short.

[NameChange74567]

I'm taking DD out of school for 2 days in June. It's the last week of term before schools close for the summer holidays so I doubt she will miss much. We don't get fined so will just tell the school the day before she won't be in for 2 days. To go during the summer holidays is double the price.

[wishywashywoowoo70]

I've just booked 2 days off for my DD for a weekend away. Just do it and enjoy yourself