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?

Have a lovely holiday- your dc is in reception so it's hardly going to make any difference in the scheme of life. It's been so awful this year

Our head would absolutely authorise this. She believes whole heartedly in family time. She only asks that we don't take them out in SATs week.
State primary school - it's very much against the LA policy but she is happy to go against the policy and has done for years.

They may not authorise but I would go anyway tbh. We went to CP at the beginning of last month. The headmistress didn't authorise the holiday but did encourage it.

thanks DS is in reception - the absence policy is a bit vague, but appears if its not authorised then DH and I would both be fined so we have to pay double the amount. Does that sound right?

No, the fine is per child, not per parent.
That's actually not true each parent can be fined but it's usually after 5 absences. My daughter used to work for penalty notices who deal with these fines.

[quote MyDcAreMarvel]**@needabreak5* DS has just turned 5 this month if that makes a difference.*
Yes it does, he is not compulsory school age u til September. You can legally take him out of school whenever you want to.[/quote]
Yes. This.

Just call him in sick would be my advice.

they can't authorise it rather than don't want to. Just say he is ill

@3AndStopping

Just call him in sick would be my advice.

Don't do this. What's he going to say to his friends and teacher on the Tuesday when they ask him how he's feeling? Take the holiday, tell the school the truth and enjoy the break. It's 2 days, he's 4. No need to tie yourself up in knots over it.

They legally cant let you have days off unless its for one of the approved reasons like an immediate family members funeral or a medical appointment.

However you have to miss 5 consecutive full days without valid reason (like being in hospital) before you can get fined.

They can't authorise it, they aren't allowed. However, I don't know anyone who's been fined for less than 5 days absence.

People getting their knickers in a twist over a 5 year old missing 2 days of school are ridiculous 😂 I used to take mine out for a week (we'd go for two weeks but I'd straddle it over half term) until they were year 3 or 4. They're 14 & 16 now and both top sets with 16 year old on target for 8s and 9s at GCSE. Do you really think missing 2 days at 5 years old will have that much of an impact??

Worth a try - our school always authorises up to 5 days x I think especially after the year everyone’s had they’ll be lenient if this isn’t their usual policy x

To be honest I think I would be calling in sick

@3AndStopping

Just call him in sick would be my advice.

Why would you advise that @3AndStopping?

Can you explain a bit further why you think that's a good idea in any circumstance and especially one in which the child doesn't even need to be in school.

Are you prepared to lie and say your child is ill?
I know a parent who takes their child to butlins every single year in September and says the child has a cold

Do what you want. What does school matter?

I always go away the week the kids go back and pay a quarter of the price of the holiday never been fined, would still do it as it still saves so much money. I’m almost certain you wouldn’t get fined for a long weekend .

@needabreak5

DS has just turned 5 this month if that makes a difference.

They can’t authorise. Every family on the country is desperate for a holiday or to see family and friends they can’t authorise everyone mini breaks in term time.

Totally understand that everyone is just as desperate as we are. they should of course authorise them all - Covid being the exceptional reason as it's not been possible to take holidays when the schools have been closed as people normally would.

Should they apply that to teachers too then and authorise all their holidays in term time? As they also haven’t been able to o away in the usual school holidays

Just take them out and enjoy your trip

they cant authorise can you imagine every parent ringing in with the same covid reason

you wont get fined for two days though

They won’t authorise it, but you shouldn’t be fined

The fine is per child and for each parent, so you'll both be fined for every child you take out for an unauthorised absence if they fine you.

YABU to expect them to authorise it. Just go, tell them DC won’t be in school, enjoy the holiday and pay the fine if you get one.

A fe w years back I took mine out for a long weekend because it was DH's great grandmothers 100th birthday - school said they couldn't authorise it but enjoy the family party. No fine as was under 5 days (and all the kids had about 98%+ attendence

I'd just go.

I asked our head could we book CP for November for our son's birthday. Mon-fri. He said absolutely and he's more than happy to authorise it.

I don't understand the UK at all. I don't have to deal with any of this nonsense, if I want to take my children somewhere on a schoolday I don't have to answer to anyone....there are no fines and I don't need permission. I simply log on to the app and let them know my child will not be in school that day.

It's not up to the principal to tell me if my child is allowed the day off school, it's up to me to tell them they won't be attending!