Kids missed 3wks school, council taking me to court!

[Questionairballoon]

Hi all,

I am very unsure about what to do.

DC aged 6 and 8. I took them on holiday this summer. missed the last 3 weeks of school (July 2025).

For context, their attendance is always good. Only time they ever miss school is when poorly. They enjoy going. Last time we took them on holiday they were 3 and 5 and they missed maybe 2 weeks of nursery/school.

Before we left this time, I emailed the head teacher and spoke with the staff partly to apologise and also to find out what they might miss for the last 3 weeks so I could cover with them if needed. For what it’s worth, both kids do well in school. Teachers wished us happy hols and we left on a positive note.

The holiday was 2 weeks in Europe and 2 weeks in America. They had some fantastic experiences and got to meet relatives who live abroad. We were back in August, they had almost a month to recoup and then back to school business as usual!

We expected a fine but got nothing. This week, I’ve received a court order telling me to expect paperwork where I’ll be “pleading guilty or not guilty”.

I’m gobsmacked tbh. Has anyone been in this situation? Any advice at all? I don’t even know what to say!

I loath them too. 100%? So you went to school sick then? It’s just ridiculous and shaming and horrible. Totally agree with you

your kids will need all the free education they can get because they're not going to learn anything useful from their parents.

Agree with this. Also, everyone moans about the length of school holidays but we have some of the shortest holidays in the summer. It’s not uncommon for kids to be off for 2-3 months in the summer. Not necessarily universally liked in this countries either - I know there’s a movement in Italy run by mums (because they pick up the load of course) to try and shorten the summer hols which are closer to 3 months in most areas.

Thus creating a bunch of additional work for the teacher unfairly.
The teacher shouldn't have to do this. Multiply by every child that does this.

These are not exam age children! A simple - "Oh we will be looking at the topic of x,y,z" while you are away is hardly creating a bunch of extra work!

OP what did the head say when you told them you were taking three weeks out? I asked earlier but you may not have seen it.

I’m usually supportive of kids missing a few days for a holiday on rare occasions. But 3 weeks? Absolute piss take.

Sounds like you should have checked REALLY carefully before doing it then OP.
Whatever the rights and wrongs are and whatever opinions there are on whether you should have done this is appears that the Council can and will take this action against you
Get proper Legal advice, do whatever your Solicitor tells you and hope the consequences aren't too bad

You know it wasn't just a "bloody holiday break".
It's not about a holiday break, it's about not sending your children to school. How can you do all this work to support other children in education and not know this?

Hi OP. Let me preface this by saying I don't give a shit that you took your kids out of school for 3 weeks on a lovely holiday. I also had no idea it got worse than fines.

It seems they do dish criminal records out. Someone's posted their DBS here in the comments > https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D74FYS54g/

Please do get in touch with a solicitor.

If they do give you a criminal record, it could affect you travelling to USA to see said family members in the future. They are so weird about entry there. I don't know if this sort of things reaches the bar for non-entry, but it wouldn't surprise me.

OP I also find this level of control over our own children - very excessive.
I'm sure it won't be as bad as what you are fearing.

I’ve not seen anyone seriously engage with the point about family overseas yet, despite it being made several times. I guess if people don’t have family far away and they get to seem them regularly they don’t really comprehend it - or care.

Yes, I think they're much longer in Ireland and Spain, aren't they?
Anyway, she's in England, so that's the situation.

3 weeks is taking the piss. Your kids are now 3 weeks behind their peers and will hold the rest of the class up.

No one seriously thinks the last 3 weeks of school is not about learning, so that’s a poor excuse.

Yes, my sister used to live in Singapore, we visited her in the summer holidays.

I'd take mine out for up to a week either side of a holiday but the casual attitude "It was only a piddly little 3 weeks at the end of term, why does everyone care" has floored me. That is nearly a month, just before they have 6 weeks off.

OP, not to worry you, you should get legal advice and representation. A lawyer arguing your case can make a difference in outcome. Since you work with children, this could affect your future career prospects. I would also get this thread deleted. And do not post on social media about this.

My sister lives in the UK. She lost her husband to cancer and is single parenting in the UK with no support. Myself and my parents live abroad and my dad has cancer.

Where should her priorities lie???

Unfortunately they are probably going to fine you. I really don't think you did anything bad though age 6 and 8 in July they wouldn't have been doing anything important anyway and meeting family who they may not otherwise have been able to see is more important imo.

Agree take this down. It will end up in the press.

It's easy with hindsight but worth checking the procedures in your area. Our friends' grandchildren live in a London borough that goes straight to court for any absence so their parents are trying to move across the border to the next one before they start school

"they won't have been doing anything important anyway"
?
In 3 weeks of school? Nothing important?

DS has a friend who is half Indian. He never missed school but flew to India with his parent at the start of the summer hols most years. Parent was adamant he would not miss school. And they weren’t an especially wealthy family.

Hope you feel better after being unkind x

Age 6 and 8, in July just before breaking up, and when the op asked the teacher and they specifically said there was nothing they needed to cover when gone. I don't think they missed anything much no.

If you plead guilty or are found guilty you will have a criminal record - this is an accusation that you've broken the law around ensuring your children are educated and you're either admitting that or you're going to challenge the accusation in a court of law. Fine is upto £2500 per child and prison term upto 3 months. If you're being taken to court they're not messing about! If it's single episode and they're otherwise good attenders it's prob just going to be the criminal record and a couple of grand in fines I doubt prison but take this seriously it's not a parking fine!

You need to go and get some legal advice before you sign anything.