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Original poster

Wanted - Reasons for authorised holidays

44 replies

chicaguapa · 12/10/2006 17:10

Hi, I was wondering what you parents put down for reasons for requesting authorised holiday in term times. I'm not looking to start a discussion on the morality of taking children out of school during term. DD has just started reception and school policy is to allow 10 days' authorised holiday providing the reason is acceptable. Cheap holidays is not deemed to be an acceptable reason so I need alternative reasons. We have 2 long weekends booked (1 at Spanish friends in Spain and 1 at a family get together at Center Parcs with DD's cousins) and a week in Spain with other friends. Other than cost there is no reason why we couldn't do this in the holidays. We just figured it would be better to have 3 breaks for the price of one.

OP posts:

NotQuiteCockney · 12/10/2006 17:12

Has this thing kicked off yet?

zippitippitoes · 12/10/2006 17:13

I think the authorisation only extends to one period not three and is for legitimate reasons

daisy1999 · 12/10/2006 17:20

the absence is only allowed for one main family holiday. You can't use the 10 days up in more than one go.

portonovo · 12/10/2006 18:01

It's on an authority-by-authority basis.

So our school does indeed (very reluctantly) allow parents to take several chunks of days - I have a standing joke with my friend that she thinks she HAS to use up the 10 days!

I'm not sure (never done it myself), but I don't think our school even asks for 'acceptable reasons' - I think you just fill in a form saying 'holiday' or whatever.

To the original poster - I would say that since your breaks seem to all be with other people, I would say that these were the only times the get-togethers could take place. But then it's up to your school to judge if that's reasonable. To have 3 looks a bit like trying it on!

HowwwlidaymumsMurderWeekend · 12/10/2006 18:05

work!Depends when you are allowed to take time off! We also had honeymoon as our most legitimate reason.

lulumama · 12/10/2006 18:05

our school allow it if exceptional - my DH has very restricted holiday time so we can only go away in may / june . if you apply for 3 breaks, all with exceptional circs, they will smell a rat.

hana · 12/10/2006 18:06

yes you don't have to justify where and why you are going - it's just noted as 'authorized holiday' up to 10 days

zippitippitoes · 12/10/2006 18:07

from the horse's mouth the guidance

scarybluealien · 12/10/2006 18:08

this year we will have maternal aunts wedding abroad as a reason
previously i hve had a trip to visit my parents abroad as a reason.
day trip to chessington for birthday.
but they dont really ask why. you just say holiday

sanchpanch · 12/10/2006 18:09

i have put family holiday in past,

but this year the form didnt ask for a reason

Blu · 12/10/2006 18:25

From Zippi's document:
"The majority of family holidays taken during term time should be categorised as unauthorised absence (Code G). However, in very exceptional circumstances schools may authorise a family holiday during term time. Such circumstances may include: ? A family holiday judged to be important to the wellbeing and cohesion of the family, following serious or terminal illness, bereavement or other traumatic events. In very exceptional circumstances, absence may be authorised using Code F. A family holiday classified under the ?authorised absence? (Code F) should not include such reasons as: ? The availability of cheap holidays ? The availability of desired accommodation ? Poor weather experienced during school holidays ? Holidays that overlap the beginning or end of term. Where a school?s prior agreement is not sought and the pupil goes on holiday, absence is unauthorised (Code G). If parents keep a child away for longer than was agreed, any extra time is recorded as unauthorised (Code G). "

Blu · 12/10/2006 18:32

But does this count in reception, since there is no legal requirement for your child to be in school until they are 5 / in Yr1??

I think the common belief that you are 'allowed' 10 days simply for holiday is that although the absence may be unauthrourised, the school can't do anything until after 10 unauthorised days. After that - trhey give your place to someone else. they do in over-subscribed schools in our borough, anyway!

tubismybub · 12/10/2006 18:53

I wouldn't worry too much about giving reasons, even if they don't authorise it, it doesn't mean you can't go it just goes down as an unauthorised absence.

lulumama · 12/10/2006 19:02

and once you go past 10 unauthorised absences, you can really get in trouble....also, when you do need to pull kids out for an emergency, school may not authorise....might think you are not being honest.....

tubismybub · 12/10/2006 19:10

hmmm......... ponders being contraversial for the first time on mumsnet.

Will make tea first and see what's being said while i'm gone.....

Hideehi · 12/10/2006 19:22

I would be honest, what can they do say no ? Even a £50 fine or whatever will be cheaper than a holiday in the school holidays.

NotQuiteCockney · 12/10/2006 19:24

I do know someone whose child lost his place in a nice school (reception, I think?) because she took him out on an unauthorised "holiday" (actually, she had a commission to paint someone in Italy, but same difference as far as the school was concerned ...)

happybiggirl · 12/10/2006 19:25

Message withdrawn

Piffle · 12/10/2006 19:27

We had to fight tooth and nail to get ds time off around xmas. He is flying to NZ to see his grandmother who is terminally ill and to go to his aunts wedding. Now that was not a good enough reason to get as long as we wanted (20 days) but in the end we got 14 after begging and promising to take work with him.

happybiggirl · 12/10/2006 19:29

Message withdrawn

Yorkiegirl · 12/10/2006 19:30

Message withdrawn

Original poster

chicaguapa · 12/10/2006 19:35

Will have to maybe play the g&t card. We have already agreed with the school that YR and Y1 are to round off DD as she is 4 years ahead and to use that time to widen the breadth of her activities. So the activities we do on our breaks will serve that purpose (which they actually will anyway - eg staying with a Spanish family) as opposed to spending time in school doing number work for example. I'm not saying she doesn't need to be in school btw just that in her case there are other ways to stretch her. Maybe should have a word with the reception teacher and she what she says. I want a good relationship with the school and don't want to rock the boat. But I also want them to recognise that being in school is not the be all and end all.

OP posts:

Distel · 12/10/2006 19:36

My parnts own a caravan, so I have got on quite friendly terms with the head mistress and said it was to do with availability.

This is a very good reason but we only have 1 holiday a year.

Good luck.

Distel · 12/10/2006 19:37

Sorry, parents - not pants.

happybiggirl · 12/10/2006 19:37

Message withdrawn

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