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?

[ForThePurposeOfTheTape]

Don't bother asking - just go.
The unauthorised absense means nothing in the real world (assuming that your child has high attendance otherwise)

[Jenif]

I am going to CP with my reception age son in a couple of weeks. I emailed the head to let her know and assumed it would be unauthorised but she replied asking for proof of the original booking last year and authorised it.

[MrsKeats]

Surely kids have missed enough school?

[KihoBebiluPute]

They literally cannot authorise the absence, but even if you are fined, the cost of the fine is peanuts compared to the cost of going to centreparcs so just don't worry about it. You probably won't be fined anyway but the absolute worst that can happen is a fine that isn't going to be unaffordable on the scale of the other costs of the weekend.

[JoshLymanIsHotterThanSam]

@Faithless12 I did nothing special, wrote an honest letter about our holiday to Florida and she authorised it.
I spoke afterwards to her and she said it was much easier for school, the pupil involved and the teachers if she just authorised it rather than faffing about with refusal

[rossclare]

If your son is 4 at the point of the holiday, then they can't fine anyway and i don't think that they can in any case if under 9 sessions or under (with one session being a morning/afternoon).

[muchtoocold]

I don't think schools can authorise it. However, all the school do is report absence figures, the LEA would issue the fine. In our area that would only be done if more than 5 days in any rolling 12 month period so if that's the same in your area it wouldn't result in a fine.

[Branleuse]

you wont get it authorised unless specific circumstances. if its only 2 days, youre better to just call in sick. Less paperwork

[muchtoocold]

As DS is only just 5 he doesn't legally have to be in school full time until September anyway so just let them know and go.

[CorianderBee]

Call him in sick

[fakeplantsdontlookreal]

Our LEA only fine after a period of 5 days, (they refer to it as 10 absences as each day is split into 2), so it is very unlikely you would be fined for 2 days, plus as some other PP have posted, if he is under 5 they can't fine you anyway.

Our LEA, the fine is per parent per child and I thought that was standard, but it may vary in other LEA.

When DD was in primary, I took her out for 5 days to visit DLP, and the LEA sent a letter saying that they couldn't fine me as they hadn't followed procedure and warned me that I could be fined....

[Smartiepants79]

Neither the school I work in or the schools my children attend would authorise holiday for this reason. Authorisation is for funerals and weddings and dying relatives.I doubt you’d get fined though.

[nanbread]

If your child turned 5 this month i.e. May then he's not compulsory school age. Tell the school this and they can't mark it as unauthorized. They might try to though.

[pinkscrunchy]

I wouldn't expect them to authorise it, but I wouldn't care and take the holiday.

[selflove]

Reiterating all the knowledgeable posters who are saying you can't get fined if he's only turned 5 this month. It should be marked as a non compulsory school age absence. So just tell them you're taking him, and go! Enjoy.

[WaitingForNormality]

We will be doing the same OP, but in January. DS will be 5 then and in Yr1 (he is a summer born, so is in reception but isn't 5 until late summer) so he will be compulsory school age then. He'll be off Fri and Mon.

I wouldn't usually dream of it as I'm a bit of a stickler for rules and get anxious about this sort of thing... but we NEVER go away (even pre-covid) and I think we deserve a weekend away as a family to have some fun. Baby #2 due in a few weeks so DS's summer hols will be rather taken up with me and DH attending to baby, and he's not exactly had the most exciting year prior to this!

I'm hoping I don't get fined, but willing to just accept the fine anyway!

[EasterEggBelly]

I’d go, be honest with the school and pay the fine.

[maddening]

They won't authorise it but that does not stop you going, you may or maynot get a fine.

We are going for a week before the May Bank Holiday, ds is year 5 so we won't be able to do it again, we never have before, his entire school life so far he has had maybe 4 days in total over 4.5 years, he is doing well and had a shit year having to move school during the pandemic due to bullying. The government can fine us, I will pay, no issue.

[GameSetMatch]

I don’t think you get fined for reception year absence because it’s a optional year. Well this is what my sons school said...

[IdblowJonSnow]

You dont need permission OP. Just take them out and be honest, or tell a fib and say they're both I'll. It won't be obvious but I doubt they will care much.
Very occasionally we've done similar. No one said anything and no fines.

[MintyMabel]

Fines are per parent per child

That seems unreasonable. If you are an NRP and your child’s other parent takes them out of school, how can anyone penalise you for that?

[Macncheeseballs]

Considering centerparcs is meant to be so family friendly, I find their friday to monday package really annoying, why can't they do a 2 day break?

[Caulidop]

OP, if your child has turned 5 this month then will not be classed as compulsory school age until the start of next term so you will not be fined. In my experience headteacher has authorised up to a weeks' absence in this situation, but obviously not all schools have the same policy. I have had a similar situation where I'd originally booked for Easter hols last year for a long weekend with an inset day. I've rebooted for the 4th time and now going in may half term, but need to take my child out of school for one day as there isn't an inset day, and summer holidays not an option as there are only full week bookings available. I think people are being massively judgemental, hope you all have a lovely holiday.

[Caulidop]

Rebooked not rebooted!

[littlemisskt]

Our head is very understanding about such things, even more so at the moment but still isn’t allowed to authorize such things. It highly unlikely you’d get a fine unless the children attendance was low.