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!

they missed three weeks?! Completely irresponsible OP

I missed one week of school every year until my GCSEs for a holiday. I still got 9 good GCSE grades including 5 A/A*s and 3 A-levels. Went on to achieve my full professional qualification by 22.

We weren't able to take holidays in the actual school holidays (there were logistical reasons, not financial), so it was either that or no holiday at all for at least 10 years.

Never did me any harm.

I wouldn't advocate a free for all, but this criminalisation of giving your own children a life is, IMO, ridiculous.

OP I’m really saddened to read this. To everyone else, it’s not black or white and the government should really re-think this! We regularly took (in private school) and take our children on holiday in term time, both worked super hard and got into grammar schools but eventually chose private school as they both got academic scholarships and so we could continue to take them out of school for holidays that suit us (not around exam time of course) and they are thriving. Just because children attend school 100% of the time doesn’t mean they are actively engaged and learning every single aspect of the curriculum, and vice versa - kids who miss school are not always missing out on education - It should be taken case by case and if the kids are falling behind then yes the parents should be taken to court as a result. But if the kids are doing well then why? The government just want the mass majority to follow rules like sheep without actually thinking does it make sense to fine or take parents to court when there is no justification? Thank goodness we are in a private school!

Do you think she will be thrown in jail for this?

I’m not sure why you’re gobsmacked that the law doesn’t apply to you.

You are incorrect in thinking that this doesn’t apply to private schools. Every school in England, private or state, must report their attendance figures and must report to the Local Authority, any pupil who has been registered as unauthorised absent for a continuous period of 10 days or more.

Not a chance. But it’s not due to a lack of space in women’s prisons

Also, nobody gets “thrown” in jail btw

Oh, god, you sound rigid, spiteful, jealous and sanctimonious. The school could have told OP her plans would invoke significant consequences.

The vast majority...yes please let's have a system where children can be taken out of school with no consequences for long holidays or just down time.
And those systems end up with a lot more abuse, FGM, how ridiculous you would pose a scenario that children can just leave school to go away for 3 weeks whenever they want.
Great excuse for the Dad that's just knocked child's mum against wall and got caught in crossfire. Will just say we are off on holiday for 3 weeks because that's allowed.
Honestly noone wants children going off whenever. A class full of 30 children and they all go away for THREE weeks whenever and do it again whenever they want. Do you want a standardised education or would you rather it's just a hitch potch

FWIW OP I am also surprised at the result. I would also have assumed a hefty fine but not court. Hope someone comes along with some useful advice for you. Good luck

You’d need to go to court to get a prohibited steps order to stop him doing it, unfortunately

They did lol. Be mindful of fines

Cannot believe people blame the school. 🙈

I think people on this thread are trying to get you worked up, wait and see what the paperwork says and take it from there, you won’t be going to jail for this

@Mumtobabyhavoc the school would not have known it isn’t their decision - it seems they too were expecting a fine (and I think had said that to the OP).

it is the local authority who have decided on this

also schools don’t refer all attendance info is sent through (although they can when it is not holiday)

It’s definitely not the schools fault. I might’ve missed messages blaming the school but I can state with confidence it’s not their fault at all.

I am just shocked that this has resulted in a court order rather than a fine. That is all.

How's the view from up there?

Yes very rubbish! I was gonna clarify I took our child in earlier years years ago before these newer rules came in before I sound like a hypocrite but not a full week, literally just a day and the school knew.

last year his dad rang him in sick taking him away then I had school ringing me when he inevitably forgot to ring in 😬

my main worry is the DBS/criminal record. 😞

Sadly there are very few defences in court school attendance cases, certainly nothing you have said is likely to constitute a legitimate defence (even though they may seem valid/relevant).
Perhaps the worst part is that pleading guilty or being found guilty (which is highly likely) means a criminal record for the parent/s.
I do not agree with this BTW, just stating facts.
Can you attempt to negotiate with the LA to pay parental penalty notice fines instead?

I think that’s been because it was three weeks tbh. Which is a bit much.

I still don’t understand why you didn’t do 2 weeks this year and 2 next?

But parents don't get fined or prosecuted.

I don’t think you will get this, if you were doing it continually then maybe but you are not, the kids also have very good attendance aside from these holidays and are doing well at school,

They absolutely do, if their LA issue a fine. It’s the law. Regardless of what type of school your child attends.

Double post.