To take children on term time holiday?

[MiniBeesMum]

We're a military family and got some news that DH would have to be away for 6 months including Christmas. We've been lucky as it's the first time for us to lose Christmas. The last couple of years have been rough as DD12 had been unwell (she could have died) and DS10 has unrelated health issues. When we got the news we booked a long weekend away just before he leaves to have a "Christmas" treat.

Then DS broke his ankle in an accident at school and was off for a couple of days. Then he caught Covid and missed 4 more days... for the first time ever his attendance is in the toilet and we got a threatening letter from school about it. Academically he's OK, has SEND so struggles a little at times in 1 area but is otherwise quite sharp.

The issue is that we're going to take him out for 2 days from the monitoring period. Has anyone experienced this? I don't care about the fine. The reason it's a term time trip is because we're losing Christmas so while I don't want a fine, I also don't care about it. My kids need this before DH leaves.

Should I cancel? I don't know if I'm going to end up in court.

Definitely go, but don’t lie. Firstly, as others have already pointed out, you don’t meet the unauthorised absences threshold. But having worked as a pastoral leader for several years, even though it was school policy not to authorise requests, we wouldn’t give anyone, parent or child, a hard time if we felt the absence was justified. On the other hand, we were always furious if a parent said their child was sick and they turned out to be on holiday (we always found out, kids talk) and those families would lose a lot of good will. Just be honest. There isn’t going to be a chance in hell you’ll be in court over it. Just enjoy the holiday with your family.

Do it but don't be surprised when you get a fine and judging by the previous poster who did this you might also hit the press for doing it

There is no term time holiday fine for military families, you are the exceptional circumstances bit on the form.

Since September 2013, by law, head teachers are only able to grant requests for leave during term time in “exceptional” circumstances, examples include:

preparing for or returning from operational tours
shift pattern only allows leave to be taken during term-time
injury/bereavement

Hope this helps as you will count as exceptional leave.

There’s advice for heads about absence in term time for military families and there is also advice for military families about how to present evidence. It isn’t automatic to authorise holiday but if you as suggested in the advice involve the unit commanding officer and/or their welfare staff and get their support then I would think it very unlikely you’d be fined.

As mentioned don't say holiday just request 2 days due to military deployment. If declined speak to your MP.

I picked up an absence request form from our school yesterday and on the (very short!) list of circumstances where term time absence would be authorised was military families with a parent being deployed away for a period of time so fingers crossed you'll be fine.
I'd still go anyway if they said no! Will be precious time for you to spend together as a family.

If you got a letter that means that his attendance has gone to below 90%. I doubt they will approve that they may not be able to. I would still do it though.

To be honest if the school are going to be so silly as to send a threatening letter for genuine illness, I wouldn’t even discuss the holiday with them.

Just email in sick for the couple of days. If the kids talk about it after and the school question with you, ignore or deny all knowledge.

I might be projecting as have recently had a perfectly well child sent home from school for days as they insisted he was still contagious - at odds with medical advice, and without any discussion with me about the medication and isolation period he’d already had before I sent him back! If I get an attendance letter it’ll be going straight in the bin.

The whole system is just laughable and if they’re going to play silly games with you I wouldn’t put up with it.

I’m sorry you’re feeling traumatised after your DD’s illness, that must have been really tough.