Fine for taking kid out of school- 8 days?

[NeedToGoOut]

Just got penalty notice letters for DH and I.

We only took DC out of school last month for 8 days, first ever time. I didn’t think a penalty was given unless DC is taken out for 10 days?

DC had 100% attendance outside of that and is top of year. No effect on education at all. Had assessments the week after we returned and got 97-100%!

AIBU to be a bit pissed off the school ran straight to LA to rat on us?

On your case OP I feel like the fine is fair. You knew it was a possibility so should have been considered when booking the holiday.

I do think some schools go too far though and you hear reports of them difficult for funerals, weddings, one-off events etc. School is important but so is the broader family and community. I don’t know what the answer is really. Presumably the law was introduced in the first place because there was a problem with attendance/disruption.

It’s 10 sessions - each day has 2 sessions (am and pm) so really it’s 5 school days before they fine so for 10 days you’d expect a fine and school is doing what they should. (I say this as someone who has taken dc out of school so not judging your decision but you don’t have the right to be pissed off).

If a family can only afford a foreign holiday during term time than so be it. Kids will remember the holidays far more than a week or two in school.
I'm a Teacher so could never do it but would it I wasn't. However i live in a country that doesn't fine. Rules here are that more than 20 days absence attendance officer is contacted.

That said I would never take kids out in September I think early in the term can be very disruptive for them but as a teacher I think a week or two in June is no biggie if it makes a family holiday is possible.

When I was at primary school, we were allowed 2 weeks off per year in term time. Guess what, I still completed my education and did well in my GCSEs etc. Those saying you "don't value you kids education" are being ridiculous.

If the government think it's OK for kids to miss 6 months of school due to COVID, you can't complain that 5 additional days is really going to make much difference.

Nothing? It used to be that way... And I think it is in other countries.

just pay it dont think you'll win an appeal if it wasnt approved or for a holiday its over a week off

It's the term after they turn 4. So if their birthday falls between September and 31st Dec, you can be fined if you take them out form January. January to March birthdays can be fined from 1st April. April birthdays onwards are safe until year 1.

Nobody rats on anyone… grow up!
School simply completes registers with the appropriate codes and the LA noticed. You don’t want a fine? Go away in the school holidays like all the staff have to!

An extra 8 days won't make any difference.

Tough! Your child wasn't at school and wasn't ill, therefore you get fined. Pay it and keep mouth shut. And don't do it AG in. Bet you are the sort to gossip when it happens to someone else. But you want sympathy when it happens to you. Mmmmmm!

Why don’t parents just tell school their DC has covid for x number of days to avoid the fine!!

I would be really pissed off in your shoes too op, don't think there's anything you can do though

I’m taking ds out of school for all of January. Our Lea don’t fine (as far as I’m aware - dd is a teacher and she says not). We are going to nz for Christmas to visit family and will then go to australia for bils wedding.

this will be the first time mil will have had all her gc in one place and the first time I’ve met my nephews (3 and 5).

ds will be reception in September. I mentioned it on the induction evening and the head said to go for it. It would more than likely be unauthorised but she fully supports (in her personal capacity) trips like ours. Disneyland less so. But seeing family who we haven’t seen for 4 years (thanks covid) absolutely.

I suppose when they come back to school all tanned and talking about how great a time they had, it gives it away a bit.

Rules are rules, what makes you think you're so special ??

Id happily pull my children out of school term time for a holiday, I'm a lone parent so can't afford school holiday prices unfortunately. Id pay the fine no questions asked too. As it happens, I'm going in the school holidays this year and next as my Mum has offered to pay the extra (450pp term time, 860pp in the holidays!).

I'm always astonished at this. From age 5 to around 14 my parents always took me out of school for a fortnight to go on holiday. My friends parents all did the same. it had no effect on our long term education, we always caught up on our return. Yes, parents should get their priorities right - a family holiday at an affordable price is a pretty high one.

I don't understand why you are upset. You chose to take them out of school in term time, no doubt for good reason. The school are obliged to share records. I don't understand why position in the class is relevant unless you think that your DC should have special attention because they were lucky enough to be born with good concentration.

Term after they turn 5, not 4.

This is only going to get worse. Schools Bill will give Cental Govt even more power to fine. I have SEND kids who struggle with timekeeping and attendance due to sleep and anxiety issues due to neurodiversity. I have done everything I can to sort but under current rules we get an unauthorised half day absent mark if DD is more thsn 10 minutes late. Thank God school is understanding snd we haven't veen fined as under new rules we would probably be in court by now as only 10 lates triggers the max two fixed penalty notices . Than Court.

@Rockyroad2020 thank you so much for hightlighting this. I was aware of the home ed provisions in the bill, but not the changes to attendance requirements/fines. I also have a DD with autism and MH issues, currently on a part time timetable suggested by the school. As our school have been understanding I naively hadn't realised the blunt instrument of fines might also be used in this way against families whose children have SEN and are struggling. Looking at the bill itself, I can't see any detail of when fines might be issued, but am very concerned by the bit that says I would no longer be allowed to withdraw DD from school to re start home education in the face of fines for non attendance. We have home educated successfully before, and it's quite scary to think this option could be taken away due to poor attendance that is due to disability/MH issues. I'm reseaching fast now, and drafting a letter to my MP!

The situation is, as has been said, that the school and staff have no jurisdiction over this, so a child can have otherwise maximum attendance, but the trigger will still be the number of absences. It isn’t the school making the decision.

It might make no difference to some children, but it might make a big difference to others and eight school days is quite a percentage of a half term. If that were replicated every year, at primary, it would be 48 days and at secondary 40.

In any case, those are the rules. Whether you think them ridiculous or unfair, that’s just the way it is.

Yes, sorry

It's an automatic fine in my area for any unauthorised absence.
They will also not authorise any absence for holidays.

This is across the board for all schools in my education authority.

Even with the fine you will still have saved a fortune on the price of the holiday.

I would just pay it to be honest.

If you decide to do this, you have to price in the fine.

Yes, We took DS (30) out of school for annual holiday, most did, we had to fill in a holiday form and was allowed up to 10 days out of school, thank goodness he isn't at school nowadays.