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?

@MaryShelley1818 I'll be taking my 4yr old out of reception next year, I know the rules and therefore will pay the fine. well you clearly don’t know the rules as a four year old is not subject to fines.

We took our dd out of school for five days few months ago. Last minute. Close relative was dying from stomach cancer and we travelled to spend time with them. He passed while we were there. School wouldn't authorise it, we've been fined. My dd has 100% attendance and stayed behind several days over the following weeks to catch up. It really boiled my piss

Why aren't you in class? Wagger 😂

Presumably because parents aren't all liars.

"Bloody joke that we have been fined by the same LA who’s broken the law by denying my SEN DC an education for the last academic year!"

Unfortunately the LA get away with doing that all the time.

ilovesooty - and that is a problem because?? It actually makes zero difference if the parents lie or are honest about the absence because ultimately the DC are still not in school, however the parents that lie avoid a fine!!

I think it’s selfish not to realise some families either cannot afford to take a holiday at school holiday prices, or cannot take annual leave during that time.

So for many, often less wealthy and less privileged, children this is the only way for them to experience a holiday.

Less wealthy, less privileged children are already much more likely to struggle to access education, and much less likely to succeed. One would argue that then also taking weeks out on holiday further disadvantages them.

Schools have to do this, it sounds like you got the wrong end of the stick with regard to how many days / sessions before it triggers a fine. You can of course be pissed off but that's the law and the school are just doing their job.

@Yerroblemom1923 🙄

Pretty sure they weren't sitting in a dark room for those 8 days. There are experiences outside the school setting that are just as educational

OP I hope you didn’t expect the teacher to do extra work catch your child up.

It really wasn’t, when I was a kid.

But then neither was holidaying abroad.

I think it's absolutely ridiculous that a childs education should take priority over everything else. Our dc work harder, longer and have less holidays than the rest of Europe. They don't need it.

We need a complete overhaul and a more relaxed education until after yr 11. Let kids be kids and enjoy other experiences apart from being stuck in a boring school all day every day.

My dds finished school now, I'm so happy I took her out for the odd beach day and for a holiday every year. I couldn't have afforded school holiday prices when she was at primary and I'm so glad I didn't believe a primary aged dds education was more important than a week of rock pooling and exploring Cornwall as she wouldn't have had the experiences she had otherwise.

My children at prep
and so relieved not to have to deal with crap like this

leave a day or two every summer holiday without fail. Not a word or even a whiff of a problem

I actually once even emailed her teacher to say that we were having a quiet day as she needed it and wanted to spend my day off with me

teacher’s response…. “Enjoy!”

Yes I thought that bit was rather funny. I've never come across a school which ranks children across the year group across all the subjects and then tells the parent where their child ranks and that of others so they can compare...

Isn’t the op mentioning results in assessment to demonstrate no impact on their learning?

although sats etc “meeting target” means they can hold a pen as far as I can gather

😂

Appealing on what basis?!?!

The LA comes and inspects our attendance data whether we like it or not.
Short of falsifying data, schools dont have much choice

@Harridance

Mongolia or tenerife, what happens if everyone decides to take their kids put of school whenever? You know yabu op

your post honestly made me laugh out loud!

Personally I think it’s a bit rich after all the spurious Covid closures 😤

@forlornlorna1 - that’s despicable! Sorry for your loss. Power mad, some heads!

Department for Education increasing the pressure on schools from September.

Attendance hasn’t fully recovered since lockdown, so more steps being taken.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-improve-school-attendance

A child who is lucky enough to have not sickness and be very bright isn't exempt from the rules and consequences??