To not pay school attendance fine?

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And what happens if I don’t. There is no statutory right to appeal.

i submitted an ‘exceptional leave request’ first week of September, requesting 5 days leave for my 6YO and 8YO daughters. We are in India this week participating in Diwali and the religious functions that lead up to it. It’s not the same in our area the U.K. and we wanted the kids to fully experience their cultural traditions at an age where they wouldn’t miss too much at school, with family and friends that live in India.

the head was meant to respond to let us know whether or not the absence would be authorised and give reasons. We didn’t hear anything and then chased up a few weeks before half term, but no response.

today we got the standard ‘why have your kids not in school email’, which I responded to and finally got confirmation that the absence has not been agreed and so will be unauthorised. No reason given other than they see it as a family holiday.

in our area it’s an automatic fine by the LA if we take kids out for 5 days. I’m a bit annoyed at the lack of communication from the school. We can’t control that Diwali is in term time, it’s only 5 days and this is really important to us as a family.

what would happen if I don’t pay the fines (it’s more the principle that I don’t think we should have to).

in terms of missing education - kids attendance is 100% otherwise and both are greater depth so I do think this week in India is a better experience for them than any impact of missing 5 days of primary school.

I don’t know where you are but in my LA, if you don’t pay your fine (or don’t pay all of it - remember it’s per child per parent) they will take you to court. And you have to attend no matter how much you beg them to let you pay (this happened to my friend).

Just pay it.

Well do what everyone else does when they take their kids out of school for a hol... pay the fine!

Why should they?

Ridiculous pov

Almost certainly harming your children

No they weren't

your request was reasonable.

we are a nation of morons and box tickers

pay the fine to make the problem go away, not because you should have to, but because the consequences are likely to cost you more than 240 in terms of stress.

and enjoy the trip

Sorry to derail, but does anyone know how long local authorities normally take to issue the fine? I took my DS out of school in early July and still haven't received the fine. I don't know if they're just dealing with a backlog or if it's been forgotten about

If the school responded before your flight would you not have gone then?
If that's the case then you wouldn't have booked the trip without hearing back first.
So just lay the fine, I'm sure it's less than you saved by going in term time

a sorry for the confusion.

5 days on from 10th is the 5 day Diwali period (as some posters had said Diwali doesn’t start until next week).

5 days absence starts tomorrow.

thank you! I think most people have said to pay the fine. I might try once with the school just asking why they didn’t complete their side of the absence form as the response to parent. Then if I get nowhere will pay the fine as it might take a lot of energy to fight it in court.

we can afford the fine. just don’t feel right paying it. We have fought a few private parking fines in the past and refused to pay, and also fought (and won) when a previous landlord kept part of deposit. But I guess they were civil issues, whereas this is criminal I suppose.

They would have missed more school if they had chicken pox/flu/Covid. Does school expect unwell children to attend, or do they need them to be absent for 5 days to avoid passing on infection? It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for them.

So is a trip to Disneyworld.

You must pay the fine or it will be passed onto a debt collection agency. It's only £60 a child.

£60 per child and per parent.

I don’t agree with fines and I think your reasons for going to India are justified but in your shoes I’d just pay the fine

After the farce that was COVID, the incessant teacher strikes and the RAAC fiasco that saw our DS at home for the first 6 weeks of term - I'd let them take me to court. The government didn't seem to care when they stopped my children's education...funny how they can pick and choose when it's important for children to be in school.

First of all, England is not a christian country-It's multifaith. It is approx 45% christian.

Secondly what does this have to do with culture? Supposing she was white and took a term time holiday to Tenerife, would you have said she should follow the culture of the country?

I wouldn't pay the fine. Its fucking ridiculous that you can't take your kids out of school for 5 days - you are the parent and providing the children are not in danger and you're not damaging them in any way - noone should have the right to tell you when and where you can take them.

I would absolutely be arguing that the trip was educational on religious and cultural backgrounds and if it was challenged I'd be asking them for a copy of their T-code policy (for Romany and gypsy travellers) and then raising the issue that it is discriminatory to allow one set of pupils to take time off based on their beliefs but not another.

I take my kids out every year for a holiday on no grounds other than we all want a holiday and it's too expensive during school hols - My argument is that their attendance is above 99% for the rest of the year and both achieved outstanding results in their sats.

The whole concept of school holidays is outdated when the majority of families then have to find 13 weeks childcare and can't afford to take the kids away. Really grinds my gears 😡

Imo great thing for the children to experience and yes valuable .

do I agree with the fines ? No

i do however say I would pay it as it will be doubled and I don’t think you would win

I think it’s disgusting that you can’t just take your kids out of school for something like this. What an experience for them, far more than they would learn at school for 5 days at that age.

Thanks for explaining re the dates, I get where you were coming from now.

I think it's definitely reasonable to challenge the school on their lack of response, though I doubt that they'll let you off the hook re the fine.

I understand the idea of not wanting to pay on principle. I am very much of the opinion that school attendance is hugely important, but I also believe that valuable education can take place outside the classroom, and it's very short-sighted to deny children the opportunity to learn about their culture and heritage/get to know extended family. We were lucky that dd's primary school were happy to authorise absences for such reasons when she was younger, and she gained so much from those trips. The same school no longer authorises trips like that though, because the discretion to do so was taken away from them.

At the end of the day, the experience that your kids will have will far outweigh the value of the fine. I know that isn't the point, but it's probably the best way to look at it right now!

Sorry Myfabby, Im not sure what your point is?

Unfortunately not. Reason is quite sensitive, but we probably won’t celebrate Diwali to the same extent next year. Then the eldest will be in secondary by the time it falls in half term again.

Funny the comments ‘the state doesn’t own your children’ yet tou bleat on and on about any school closure. Pick a side 😂