That old chestnut.... What is your school's policy on holidays in term time?

[Kbear]

Have you been fined for taking your child out of school in term time? or worse.. been to court after not paying the fine?

Do they turn a blind eye and authorise it? Turn a blind eye but put it down as unauthorised? Do they fine parents who take their children out of school?

I was just wondering (after a chat with a friend today who has been fined for taking her children out of school) on how the policy differs within councils and around the country.

Where I live, a London borough, they fine you if your face doesn't fit, or so it seems - some people get fined, others dont.

Where do you live and what happens where you live?

Just asked the teacher of my DS' reception class this last week. Apparently the borough policy is to 'not authorise' leave during term time but no mention of fines or other punitive measures.

Term time holidays are not authorised unless there are exceptional circumstances eg parent in the forces.

The odd days are not authorised and generally no action taken but you are likely to be fined if you take more than a week.

At DD2's school - a large comp in London - they have started to make kids come in on Saturdays to make up "lost time" - clearly punitive - punish the kids. They do fine people but more for absenteeism I think.

im pretty sure my parents took me and my brother out of school for a holiday, but told the school we were both sick!

runs and hides from authorities

This is my friend's point - there is a rule, which applies to some and not others. Her husband's holiday entitlement is fixed by his employer (as is my DH's) so they got fined because they took their kids out of school for a holiday - someone else did same thing, said as their DH was a policeman, they didn't get fined.

Someone else at the same school said their DH couldn't get time off in the summer due to the Olympics so didn't get fined.

Where I live, only exceptional cases get days off as authorised during term time, and you need to provide evidence.

Someone I know tried to get round this by claiming her kids were sick, but the youngest didn't remember to stick to the story and they got into lots of trouble

anyone know anyone who has been prosecuted for non payment of fine?