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 did lol. I take full responsibility 😂

That's probably true in this case, but the school/ council aren't going to differentiate which weeks are ok to miss I guess

Yes thank you for being realistic 👍🏼

I have literally said a million times I am taking responsibility and willing to pay the fines but the possibility of a criminal record/DBS issues is what worries me and I’d like advice on how to go forward.

Chatting shit about “fuck around and find out” would make more sense if I was acting like a brat saying why me blah blah!!!!! But it’s ok, many people don’t have empathy and haven’t been taught to be kind so you keep doing you. :)

Absolutely disagree. This was never an issue when I was growing up. I also took my kids out for the last two weeks of the summer term to go to Disney. So bloody shoot me. Guess what? They have all done really well for themselves and not been hindered for it. Thankfully this was Scotland where there isn’t such a draconian approach. It’s also completely unfair that parents with kids at state schools can be criminalised but private school parents can do what they like. This isn’t an anti private school thing, I just think it’s completely unfair. It doesn’t target the genuine non attendees or look at reasons behind persistent absence.

This ⬆️

how can anyone say they don’t take holidays during term time when taking a 3 week holiday in term time ….. 🤔

What sort of difference is that fine going to make to the education system? Absolutely none, a piddling drop in a vast ocean.
All it will achieve is to make OP poorer. Which isn't good for her DC is it?

Hello fellow Grimsbyite 😄!
I know what you mean, I think it's probably a good idea to stagger these holidays, but you're never going to please everyone of course. Someone on here tried to get support for a petition to shorten the summer holiday - it wasn't popular!
I've never been to Centre Parcs, but I've just had a look at their prices!
A week in Grimsby would be cheaper 😉

Which is exactly why, in the absence of other concerns, it should be up to parents. I am a far better judge of my children's needs than the government is thanks.

@Questionairballoon it isn’t the school I suspect they haven’t lied as they assumed it would be fine as well but the local authority have decided to do so.

i suspect it will still be a fine but you cannot take them out again in the mid term (I think within 3 years) as could be worse then

Are so many people unable to read? I said we don’t take term term holidays AS IN: before this one, we did not take any TT holidays and our children have good regular attendance. This was an exception to our normal life. It’s not something we do every year.

You say “we could not afford the prices which is why we have only gone this year.”

I too cannot afford to take my children away to visit relatives or go on multi-continent holidays in school holiday time.

I solve this problem by NOT DOING IT.

Every single person with kids at school has the same issue of costs in the holidays being much more. Are you not a little embarrassed that you think it’s different for you??

The purpose of the fine isn't to fund more library books, it's to deter parents from taking their children out of school as and when they feel like it. Because it is disruptive and has a negative effect on the education of not just the children concerned, but also the other children in their class.

What it will achieve is to make other parents think twice before doing the same thing.

I thought you said you’d done one before in 2022?

Yes, I'm sure she did.

Her children were 3 and 5 in 2022.

Judging by your basic maths and literacy it sounds like a lot of you missed school because your parents took you on holiday during term time.

Sorry OP, this is unreasonable as it is half the term. Though a £2500 fine will he annoying, it's far less than the extra you would have paid if you had taken them on a 3 week holiday in the school holidays. On this occasion you need to suck it up and consider it a lesson learnt

Her five year old was compulsory school age in 2022 and missed two weeks of school.

I think you're the one struggling with maths and literacy here.

But I think that I don’t want to live in a society in this county where a holiday for people who are working or people who are suffering with disability or sickness or children … I hate the fact that it’s considered a privilege.

If i had the money I'd seek legal advice and representation and go on the offensive at the system.
Maybe the papers want to pick this up? 🤔
Also, write to you MP, do you have a minister for educaton as well?

@Questionairballoon I hope that the court process is pragmatic and that you are able to find a good solicitor to help navigate it.

I don't agree with it and I don't feel it's fair but life is ever more black and white these day.

Oh Come on! I’ve said it before. Why don’t you hand the state your children at birth? Seems like you don’t really want to spend time with them.

I think she said her eldest was nursery going age and the rules did not apply.

how fun the last few days were with movies and colouring!) I just assumed it was not as bad as taking 2 weeks of leave during the middle of the school year.

Well, it's all relative but that's still a big chunk of their school year and of course they're still learning in the last weeks of summer term. Generally the fun and games are the last day or two with some school trips possibly around this time but education is taking place! If you were a regular state school teacher once you'd know this.

It may vary between authorities and some issue a fine but it seems you've ticked a box with the number of weeks times the number of children that means they are prepared to make an example of you. Seek legal advice maybe? People may sympathise but everyone is in the same boat paying more for holidays and everyone who does this has a sob story or justifies it in some way or adds in detail to counterbalance the poor impression the facts create.

You assumed it would only be a fine. You clearly didn't think it mattered that much. Time to face the music, I'm afraid.

If the OP can afford 2 weeks in Europe and 2 weeks in Australia or wherever I shouldn't think the fine will make much of a dent in her lifestyle. She might even learn something, like how to prioritise.

The 2500 is the maximum fine per parent per offence. Between the OP and her husband and their two children there are two parents here who have each committed two offences.

Oh but this law only applies to poor people surely. My reasons are do very valid and real. Because my family is Special. My eyes are rolling out of my head.