Another day, another whinge...that's all I seem to do recently!

[thefroggy]

We haven't been on holiday since I lost my job so my mum offered to pay for one for us and the kids as long as it was cheap. She collected the tokens from the paper and sent them off with the deposit. (I've never taken them in term time before, ever, but as they're both doing well at school I checked with the schools re exams etc and found out which weeks would be ok).

Then the powers that be decided to clamp down on term time holidays, too late, the form had been sent off. We got our dates back, collected a holiday form for ds only to see that the £100 fine is already in place. So now we can't go, and mum will lose her deposit.

I know there are those that think if i'm claiming benefit we don't deserve a holiday anyway but it wasn't me paying for it, i'm trying my best to get another job. It wasn't my fault I was made redundant and it certainly wasn't my kids fault.

I know it's not personal but I feel like my kids are constantly being punished for me being out of work.

I bloody hate this life. I hate being single, I hate having to claim benefits and have people look down their nose at me.

I know i'm being unreasonable btw, just needed to vent.

sorry froggy

You can always go anyone if you want. The school may not authorise it but are unlikely to actually start calling out the educational welfare people for one holiday. It's not going to make any difference to your DCs future prospects to have some unauthorised leave against them.

They will fine me £100 purpleroses, the form clearly states that ds's year cannot take any holidays in term time at all. Not what the receptionist told me a few weeks ago when I told her I was planning to book a holiday and asked about exams etc. Why didn't she say then before we sent off for it?

Apparently, unauthorised leave would go against ds when he applied for college too which is a bit unfair. He had some "unauthorised" absences on his last report and I was less than pleased because I know for a fact on those days he was ill and i'd called the school. His form tutor's response? "ah well, sometimes the receptionists are busy and messages dont get through"

you need to make a fuss with the head. tell them that you asked the eceptionist and booked in good faith. tell them that you have paid on the information that you received from the office and that it is the only holiday that your children will get because you ae so poor. complain to the governors about the wong information and the wrong unauthorised absences. it might not get you anywhere but hey, you will have done all you can .

I would put your case to the head (add a strong case about the stress caused by your redundancy and loss of earnings affecting both you and the children). Mention your mum organising and paying for a cheap holiday through the paper for you (which gave restricted choice of holiday dates) for you to have a well needed break. Because it might well be authorised in these circumstances. xx

Is the fine legally enforceable? Is there something in the school like a contract that you signed when they joined that states you agree to not take them out of school in term time for a holiday? Sorry to be ignorant but I don't know about this area and I would like to as I was thinking that next year we may have to go in termtime as the holiday period is soooo expensive and we only went at half term this year as I fluked on a deal.

I took her out for a week once a few years ago and wrote and told them she was going and got a snotty letter back lecturing me. I just ignored it. But no fine.

Thanks all

Go and pay the fine back at £1 a week, IF the head hassles you. Ensure it's in wee brown envelope of coppers every Monday morning. Also make sure you don't any sick days.